ZIMBABWE has made a lot of interventions to make sure that no one starves after the country experienced critical food shortages as a result of the El Niño-induced drought.
Speaking during the official opening of the 5th Ordinary Meeting of Sadc Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management in Victoria Falls yesterday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga said some of the notable interventions included blitz food distribution programmes.
He said the interventions also included drilling of boreholes and establishment of village business units to build resilience in affected communities as well as urban cash transfers, among a host of other programmes and initiatives.
“These interventions have gone a long way in responding to the needs of affected communities as we endeavour to leave no one and no place behind in our response efforts,” Chiwenga said.
“I am pleased to inform you that the international community has, indeed, expressed solidarity with us during this trying time by donating in cash and kind.”
Chiwenga called for collaboration among Sadc member States to enhance disaster risk reduction in the region.
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He said the Sadc Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme Synthesis Report for the 2023/24 season revealed that an estimated 57 million people were food insecure in at least 12 member States in the region.
“The regional humanitarian appeal for assistance that I have alluded to above targeted resources to the tune of US$5,5 billion, then, while some member States were finalising their vulnerability assessments,” the Vice-President said.
“I am confident that member States have achieved a feat in terms of mobilising resources and responding to the drought, particularly those that declared states of disaster.
“This is to ensure that affected communities survive the threats and impacts posed by the drought as well as rebuilding their lives. Over and above, we need to ensure that no one in the region dies of hunger.”
Chiwenga said from experience, the La Niña climate expected in the current rainy season was associated with hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods, cyclones, hailstorms and lightning, among others.
“In Zimbabwe, the current rainy season has started on a bad note as we are already experiencing unprecedented destruction of critical infrastructure such as schools and houses as a result of strong winds and hailstorms,” he said.
Chiwenga said as part of preparedness for hazards associated with the current season, Sadc recently developed a Regional Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan for the 2024/25 season highlighting the region’s state of preparedness, gaps and challenges in the implementation of co-ordinated and effective disaster preparedness, mitigation and response.
Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe, who is also the chairperson of the committee, urged Sadc ministers to harness national and regional efforts of managing disaster and continue to improve on disaster risk reduction capacity and raise awareness to risk and strengthen preparedness.