Zimbabwe declares state of disaster due to food shortages
Zimbabwe has declared a state of disaster over food shortages that have left almost eight million of the country’s 13 million citizens in need of assistance.
A disaster declaration valid for three months was signed by President Robert Mugabe today.
Zimbabwe has blamed the crisis on a drought, but the UN World Food Programme said the disruption of crop cycles by Mr Mugabe’s land reform programme has also contributed to the problem.
UN agencies launched a programme earlier this year to feed about 750,000 people facing starvation in worst affected rural areas, but only one-third of the emergency food required has been delivered.
