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Statement
from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Mr. J. Victor Angelo
Office
of the UN Resident Coordinator
May 11, 2004
http://www.zimrelief.info/files/attachments/hcstatement.pdf
Harare - On 30 March
2004, the Government of Zimbabwe issued an invitation to the UN Agencies
FAO and WFP to field a joint mission to assess the level of food production
for the 2003/2004 agricultural season.
In response, a Crop
and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) was brought into the country
and was fielded on 30 April 2004. The mission was to conclude its fieldwork
on 11 May 2004. It is with regret and concern that I have to put on record
that on 4 May 2004 the Government of Zimbabwe recalled its field officers
who were jointly participating in the assessment. Since the CFSAM is only
conducted with the agreement and participation of the Government, this
action effectively cancelled the mission.
Credible production
figures are an essential tool for planning purposes. While the UN recognises
that Government is responsible for the provision of basic needs to the
country’s population, we are concerned that should a food assistance need
be identified later in the year, and were the Government to issue an appeal
at that time, a very rapid response may not be possible for the following
reasons:
(a) The UN will
not have been in a position to carry out an assessment of needs at the
time of harvest - and hence the international community might be hesitant
to respond; and
(b) WFP would have
scaled back operations, and would need time to build up the necessary
operational capacity.
Considering the critical
nature of food security, the UN sought clarification from the Government
of Zimbabwe as to its position with regard to the CFSAM. The Government
is yet to respond.
For more information:
Office of the
UN Resident Coordinator
9th Floor Takura
House
67 – 69 Kwame
Nkrumah Avenue
P. O. Box 4775
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: (263 4) 792687/793051
Fax: (263 4)
792 978
Email: fo.zwe@undp.org
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