CHIVI, Zimbabwe, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Amid the sweltering heat, Angela Gotore sits under a huge tent waiting to receive food aid mobilized by the Zimbabwean government in cooperation with aid agencies.
Chatting with her neighbor and occasionally casting her eyes on the stacks of grain, legumes, and vegetable oil, Gotore is among drought-stricken villagers of the Madyangove communal area in the Chivi District of Masvingo Province, who have become entirely dependent on food aid for survival.
A devastating El Nino-induced drought in the previous season wiped out all the villagers' crops and decimated pastures, leaving the villagers and their livestock grappling with food and water shortages.
"The drought has left me and my fellow villagers scrounging for food and water. We are carrying a heavy burden to ensure that our children have the bare minimum to eat. But I want to thank the government and the donor agencies who have come to our rescue by giving us food," Gotore said at a recent food aid distribution event in Chivi.
Fredy Hapazari, head of the village, said the vital food items are "an early Christmas present to the drought-weary villagers."
"We are facing a very difficult situation because of the drought. Not only are we struggling with food shortages, but our livestock are also threatened by a lack of water and pasture. We are worried that if the rains do not come early, we may not be able to get a decent harvest in the coming season," he said, adding that the drought has also severely affected economic opportunities for youth in the drought-prone district.
To mitigate the effects of the drought, which has left more than half of Zimbabwe's population food insecure, the Zimbabwean government is working with aid agencies, including the World Food Program (WFP), to distribute food aid to vulnerable people across the country during the lean season from December to March next year.
According to the government, at least 7.6 million Zimbabweans are food insecure and will need food aid until March 2025 following the drought, which was declared a state of disaster by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in April.
The UN food agency is targeting to provide emergency food aid to approximately 1 million people across Zimbabwe during the lean season, according to Barbara Clemens, country representative and director for the WFP in Zimbabwe.
"The government of Zimbabwe remains committed to working hand in hand with the WFP to ensure that these resources are deployed effectively and reach those most in need ... We are confident that we can continue to make meaningful progress in our fight against food insecurity and malnutrition," July Moyo, Zimbabwean minister of public service, labor and social welfare, said in a speech read on his behalf at the event.
The minister underscored the Zimbabwean government's commitment to ensuring that no one dies of hunger during the most vulnerable months of the lean season despite limited resources.
With the growing negative impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe, Clemens emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to meet immediate food needs and build community resilience to future climate shocks.
"Our work is far from over. More resources and cooperation are needed to reach those still in need," she said. "We need to strengthen resilience at all levels, and we need to step up our preparedness efforts to be ready when the next shock occurs. This includes investing in climate-smart agriculture, scaling up social protection systems and climate risk insurance, and empowering communities to build sustainable livelihoods."
She noted that by addressing the root causes of vulnerability and enhancing preparedness, Zimbabwe can reduce the impacts of climate change and help communities withstand future challenges.
According to Clemens, funding shortages remain a challenge, as the WFP has received only 50 million U.S. dollars out of the 201 million dollars it needs to respond to the El Nino-induced drought in the southern African country.
