Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have come to the rescue of communities in Chiredzi rural, on the periphery of the Gonarezhou National Park, who are facing drought-induced hunger.
The area, one of the most marginalised in the country, experiences perennial droughts and high commodity prices coupled with wildlife-human conflict.
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been providing food aid to 600 households over the past four months.
The project is running under the Drought Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). ZRCS secretary-general Elias Hwenga said:
The overall objective of this DREF operation is to anticipate and respond to the emerging food insecurities and to improve the preparedness of the Chiredzi community for the forecasted hydro-meteorological emergencies in light of the normal-to- above normal rainfall forecast.
The imminent emergency preparedness activities are being complemented by early actions that are aimed at mitigating and minimizing the humanitarian impacts of the lean season and anticipated hydro-meteorological hazards.
The operation is also now set to provide immediate assistance to address the basic urgent food security needs of food-insecure households in Chiredzi after the completion of the beneficiary registration exercise.
The food insecurity assistance will be complemented by the provision of WASH and health services to the target wards of Chiredzi.
The operation has seen the distribution of non-food items which are mosquito nets, PPE and hygiene kits.