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WFP Emergency Report No. 46 of 2005
Relief Web
November 11, 2005

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6J53WG?OpenDocument

Zimbabwe
(a) The food security situation remains critical. WFP's Mutare sub-office has reported that a reduction of meals have become commonplace. Distress sales of goats and cattle have been widely reported. Information from Mashonaland Province has indicated that distress sales have led to a decline in the price of livestock due to over supply. Villagers are spending three to seven days waiting for maize at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) sales point, after travelling 65 km, or travelling 90 km to purchase from private traders. In Bulawayo, reports reveal that children are receiving their only daily meal at school due to an insufficient amount of food at home. In Binga and Umzingwane communities, people are relying mainly on wild fruit. The water table in the area is reported to have dropped, causing serious water shortages resulting in people having to walk long distances in search of water and animal loss. In Masvingo Province, food aid was reported to be the only meaningful source of food in three of four districts where distributions took place during the week.

(b) Vulnerable group feeding distributions continue to be monitored. Co-operating partners reported having carried out almost 80% of the planned distributions in some areas. Concern over the limited number of people being registered in view of the dire need is still prevalent. Local leaders including chiefs were content with WFP resuming food distributions.

(c) Maize grain prices continue to spiral with variations between the provinces. Weekly prices per kilo collected on 04.11.05, are as follows: Harare ZWD 10,300 represents a 20 percent increase over the preceding week, and a 60 percent increase over the beginning of September 2005; Bulawayo ZWD 8,000 represents a 30 percent increase over the preceding week; Masvingo ZWD14,300 represents nearly a 14 percent increase; and Mutare although unchanged since last week at just under ZWD 9,000, is nevertheless a price increase of approximately 90 percent since the beginning of September 2005.

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