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6 August 2008The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an appeal to help more than 260,000 people in Zimbabwe who are
facing chronic food shortages.Working with the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS), the Federation is importing 35,000 tonnes of food to assist particularly vulnerable people through its
existing HIV home-based care programme. The British Red Cross is supporting the food distributions with a £300,000 contribution from its Disaster Fund.The UN estimates up to 5.1 million
people will be struggling to get food by the end of the year. "This figure represents approximately 45 per cent of the country's population," said Peter Lundberg, the head of the Federation's office
in Harare. "It gives a clear indication of how severe the situation is and could become. We are very concerned."Food crisisThe deepening humanitarian crisis, drought and the
impacts of climate change have all impacted on agricultural production. This year's harvest in Zimbabwe is expected to provide just 40 per cent of food needs.The ability of the government to
import food will be constrained by soaring global prices and inflation rates – at more than two million per cent they are the highest in the world. The food crisis in Zimbabwe in 2008 is likely
to be the worst ever on record.Red Cross actionThe Federation appeal supports an immediate response to humanitarian needs across the country, including distributions of basic
food items and providing water and sanitation. Households will also be given help in re-establishing food production by distributing seeds and training in improved farming techniques.Zimbabwe,
like so many African countries, is struggling to cope with the affects of HIV and AIDS. Through its community home-based care programmes across the country, the Red Cross will provide food aid to
thousands of people living with HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children. The Red Cross operation will support about 12.5 per cent of the population that the UN estimates will require
food assistance from July to September 2008. Coordination with other humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, is taking place to address the widespread needs across the country.
A woman collects drinking water from a tube well at the flooded village of Godadhar in Faridpur in this July 27, 2008 file photo. From fuel-efficient stoves for displaced Congolese families ...
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