Zimbabwe has raised its aid appeal to 3.3 billion U.S. dollars to cater to 60 percent of the country’s population that will be food insecure until March next year due to drought. The number of food insecure people is now estimated at 9 million, up from the initial 7.7 million, constituting 60 percent of the country’s population.

Launching a joint food aid appeal with the United Nations, the government thanked development and humanitarian partners for their support to date but urged them to step up their assistance to help those in need. The humanitarian appeal focuses on immediate needs, recovery, and resilience building of the affected populace. There is a moral obligation and urgency for the international community to lend a hand for life-saving support to those most in need.

The UN has launched an aid appeal of 429.3 million dollars to assist close to 3.1 million people affected by the drought in Zimbabwe. The drought has negatively impacted crop and livestock production, with estimates indicating a 52 percent shortfall in local production. Zimbabwe’s crop production was negatively affected, with 40 percent of maize crops classified as ‘poor’, and 60 percent as a write-off.

The livestock sector risks being seriously affected in the coming winter season, between June and October, due to poor pasture quality and lack of drinking water. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster over the drought and indicated that the country requires 2.2 billion U.S. dollars to respond to the drought. The international community is urged to show solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe at this extremely challenging time and to stand with them as they step up their response to this devastating event.