UN Asks For Help For Zim Drought Crisis

The United Nations have asked for immediate and sufficient help for Zimbabwe, as the country is heading towards a hunger disaster thanks to the immense drought that has hit the country within the last 5 months.

The UN addressed and appealed to the BRICS nations – which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and neighbouring South Africa – to join Western countries that have pledged to help Zimbabwe fight the hunger crisis they are facing.

Bishow Parajul, head of the UN in Zimbabwe, said that the help of these countries would go a long way in helping prevent a complete disaster in Zimbabwe:

“…The timely support from the BRICS, either bilaterally or through the UN, will go a long way in augmenting ongoing efforts by the government of Zimbabwe, UN, the traditional OECD donor countries, the Red Cross movement and the NGOs,” he said.

He continued saying that the situation in Zimbabwe is ‘critical’ and that countries would have to act now before the country heads to a complete disaster.

According to Parajul, the UN has managed to raise $78 million so far, thanks to help from the United States, European Union and the UN’s own funds.

The drought has had an impact on various Southern African countries, but perhaps most so on an already fragile Zimbabwe. Crops as well as cattle are dying thanks to the severe drought, which in turn aggravates an already volatile food situation.

Ot is estimated that more than 20 000 cattle have died in Zimbabwe within the past 3 months.

The drought is a result of the weather phenomenon known as El Nino, that has caused havoc in various regions across the globe, more so in southern and eastern Africa where extreme heat and little rainfall has resulted in this severe drought.