The Japanese government on Thursday said it had contributed more than $4.2m to the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) to boost food and nutrition security among some of the poorest families in Zimbabwe.
Japan’s support comes at a time when the UN has warned of a looming food crisis in the southern African country, where about 2.2-million people will need food assistance between January and March 2014, according to a recent study by the Zimbabwe government in partnership with the UN and other aid agencies.
The report, released earlier this month, estimates that one in four of the country’s rural population could face hunger during the coming lean season.
Japan’s contribution will help fund various WFP initiatives, including programmes to assist vulnerable rural households until the next harvest and to help malnourished HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients, women and children.
"Unfavourable weather patterns continue to have a negative effect on harvests, resulting in widespread food insecurity," said the Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yonezo Fukuda, on Thursday. "Our support is designed to sustain the most vulnerable and make them better able to cope during difficult times."
The WFP and partners are preparing to assist about 1.8-million vulnerable people in Zimbabwe through food distributions and cash transfers beginning in October.
"Japan’s support enables the WFP to increase its assistance to people most at risk so they can lead more productive lives," said Sory Ouane, the UN agency’s director in Zimbabwe.
At this year’s Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Japan reaffirmed its commitment to fostering development in Africa by pledging contributions of $32bn to the continent over the next five years.
The Japanese government has been funding food assistance to developing countries since 1968. In the past decade, it has contributed more than $35m to the WFP’s operations in Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe’s new government will have its work cut out for it as it seeks to support the agriculture sector that has dipped following the chaotic land invasions of 2000 that disrupted food production. Nearly 4,500 white commercial farmers were evicted from their farms by war veterans loyal to Mr Mugabe.
Political observers are not holding their breath over Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, who was sworn in this week for another term. Under Mr Made’s watch, Zimbabwe has lost its status as a breadbasket of the southern African region.
