My good mood could only last so long, I see. The following information comes out of Africa News.

Zimbabwe is on the brink of man-made starvation. Hilal Elver, a United Nations special expert, advised that she found stunted, underweight children, mothers too hungry to breastfeed their babies, and medicine shortages in hospitals during a 10-day visit. Zimbabwe is among the four most food-insecure states in the world. Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia are the others who have been ravaged by war.

Some of the consequences of hunger include school dropouts, early marriages, domestic violence, prostitution, and sexual exploitation. Government corruption, mismanagement, natural disasters, droughts, and sanctions are to blame for the crisis. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has struggled to fulfill promises since taking office in 2017.

The following has been advised:

More than 60% of the population of 16 million is now considered food insecure.

About 5.5 million people in rural areas face food insecurity. In urban areas, about 2.2 million people lack access to basic public services, including health and safe water, according to figures by U.N agencies and the government. Electricity is cut up to 19 hours a day.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, hyperinflation and cash shortages have deepened, with prices for basic food items (bread and cooking oil) rising as much as five times; medical supplies are becoming scarce, with some people forgoing medical treatment due to high costs; water scarcity has led to crop failures, pushing food insecurity to new highs and raising the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera; the country is also still recovering from Cyclone Idai.

President Mnangagwa and the United Nations have filed an appeal for international assistance. He has promised economic recovery, but the United States and Europe have kept sanctions on the country, making an international bailout look dim. The government is also importing electricity from neighboring countries and has signed twenty-year loan deals with China and India to boost power generation. Which is necessary but problematic, in my opinion, because it keeps Zimbabwe in a codependent state.

I’m always apprehensive about corporate entities that provide relief, but if you’d like to donate and help, click here. If you’re familiar with any grassroots organizations that are assisting in this crisis, please provide their information below.

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Felter, C. (2019, August 15). Why Is Zimbabwe Starving? Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/why-zimbabwe-starving.