Half of Zimbabwe dependent on aid, says UN humanitarian chief

UN calls for increased farming production to prevent an extra 2 million people becoming reliant on food and medical aid

Almost half the population of Zimbabwe could soon be dependent on food and medical aid, the UN’s humanitarian chief said today.

John Holmes, the UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said that around 3 million people were already reliant on aid, and that figure could rise to more than 5 million.

He said it was a critical time because preparations needed to be made now for next year’s harvest to avoid millions more people becoming reliant on aid. The main growing season in Zimbabwe lasts from now until March.

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