Zimbabwe is grappling with a severe drought, forcing the government to allocate additional resources to support vulnerable populations.
- Increased Need: In 2024, $7.6 million was designated to assist 7,300 people with disabilities. However, due to the drought, the number seeking aid is expected to rise, requiring an extra $1.5 million for essential services.
- Nationwide Crisis: President Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster in May, requesting $2 billion to address the drought’s widespread impact. Zimbabwe, alongside neighboring Malawi and Zambia, faces acute malnutrition. The dried-up Kapotesa dam exemplifies the critical situation.
- Hardships and Hunger: The drought compels villagers to travel far for sporadic work, providing insufficient income to buy food. Many families in Mudzi are now limited to two meals a day. Malnutrition cases have risen by 20% in recent months, prompting health professionals to create a local porridge solution (“maworesa”) to combat the crisis.
- Urgent International Support Needed: The UN estimates nearly half of Zimbabwe’s population (7.6 million people) requires aid. A $429 million drought appeal was launched in June, but funding has been slow to arrive. UNICEF’s Zimbabwe representative, Yves Willemot, stressed the urgency of international support, particularly for children and pregnant women, who are especially vulnerable.
