NEARLY 13 000 villagers in Gokwe North, in the Midlands province, are benefiting from an emergency relief initiative designed to help those in need.
CARE Zimbabwe in collaboration with Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) and Padare, with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations), is providing critical assistance to drought-affected households.
In a Press statement yesterday, NAZ said the project was targeting over 24 800 people in Gokwe and Mutare.
“Over the past six months, the project has delivered immediate relief to 24 800 (people) . . . In Gokwe 12 900 and Mutare Rural 11 900 individuals in areas that are hardest hit by food shortages,” the statement read.
“The prolonged drought, driven by El Niño weather patterns, left many households unable to meet basic food needs, with families often surviving on less than one meal per day.
“Through targeted interventions, the programme has helped to provide food, improve nutrition and offer protection services to those most at risk, particularly women and children.”
NAZ said the project had helped to reduce malnutrition in children under the age of five.
“The project is also enhancing nutrition surveillance and services as well as proffering awareness and nutrition support for priority at-risk vulnerable populations,” the statement read.
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“It is also supporting children under five with supplementary nutrition vouchers per household that targets specialised food commodities that enhance nutritional diet quality . . .”
Care Zimbabwe project team leader Shingirai Saruchera said the project sought to enhance nutrition.
“CARE Zimbabwe and its partners remain committed to supporting vulnerable families as they move from crisis towards stability,” Saruchera said.
Last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the El Niño-induced drought a national disaster and sent out a US$3 billion begging bowl.
The drought left over five million Zimbabweans in urgent need of food aid.
