By Grace Samuel
The UN has promised to assist Zimbabwe in raising over R37 billion in response to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s declaration of a national State of Disaster due to the severe El Niño-induced drought.
The UN had previously allocated R93 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund in December last year.
Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster after evaluating the damage caused by the drought.
The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian coordinator in Zimbabwe, Edward Kallon, offered assistance in mobilizing resources to address the situation.
He highlighted the significant impact of the ongoing dry spell in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa and emphasized the need for a response plan focusing on various essential areas to help those impacted by the crisis.
After assessing the damage caused by the drought, Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster. Edward Kallon from the UN in Zimbabwe pledged support in gathering resources to tackle the crisis.
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He stressed the severe effects of the prolonged dry period in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa, underlining the necessity of a response plan targeting key areas
Zimbabwe has followed Malawi and Zambia in declaring a national disaster due to drought in Southern Africa.
The drought has impacted electricity production in Zimbabwe, where hydroelectric power is crucial.
The World Meteorological Organization has noted that the current El Niño is one of the strongest on record. Despite peaking in December, above-average temperatures are anticipated until May.
The UN has reported that rainfall in January and February was at its lowest in 40 years.
The UN stressed the need to improve resilience-building and climate adaptation measures to tackle the impacts of severe weather events and address the larger climate crisis.
They commended Zimbabwe’s government and humanitarian partners for their proactive approach in planning and resilience-building efforts to support communities.
The areas covered by the advance allocation included water, hygiene, sanitation, health responses to diseases like cholera, along with agriculture, food security, and nutrition.
