THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has responded to the food insecurity prevailing in the southern parts of the country by launching a cash transfer programme targeted at over 2 000 households in Gwanda in partnership with its sister organisations across the world.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI,SENIOR REPORTER
ZRCS public relations officer Takemore Mazuruse told NewsDay yesterday that their sister societies in Finland, Britain, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands and Monaco have responded to ZRCS’ CHF 805 000 Emergency Appeal Mazuruse said the response, done through ZRCS’s Food Security and Livelihoods Programme, will benefit 10 500 individuals in 2 100 households.
“We have launched a $50 per household cash transfer programme in Gwanda as a way of mitigating the challenges,” he said. “The $50 will be paid monthly during the entire period of food challenges.”
Mazuruse said the sister organisations started responding both in pledges and in cash following the official launch of the programme in December last year.
According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET)’s outlook for Zimbabwe for the period October 2013 to March 2014, conditions in food deficit areas were likely to increase, particularly in the southern and western parts of the country.
“Current shortfalls for the Seasonal Targeted Assistance Programme are likely to continue throughout the outlook period and will likely result in very poor households experiencing food and livelihood protection deficits,” read the report in part.
FEWSNET further noted that access to food during the first quarter of 2014 would only be possible through assistance to poor households.
