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WFP Emergency Report No. 7 of 2006
World Food Programme (WFP)
February 17, 2006

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SNAO-6M4QER?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=zwe

Zimbabwe

(a) In January, WFP distributed almost 41,000 tons of food to an estimated 4 million people with the assistance of Cooperating Partners.

(b) According to the Government of Zimbabwe's Central Statistical Office, the annual rate of inflation in January increased to over 600 percent, a rise of 27 percent from December 2005. The current rate is the second highest to be recorded since January 2004 when the figure reached 623 percent. Many commentators believe official inflation figures under-state the rate of inflation. As an example, in January 2006, the market price for maize was over 30 times higher than that recorded one year earlier.

(c) Fuel import delays have negatively impacted WFP's network of primary and secondary transporters. WFP is working to augment its contingency reserve for transport to Food Distribution Points; however, as WFP's own fuel supplier is facing shortages the situation remains unstable.

(d) The Government-controlled Grain Marketing Board (GMB) supply of maize remains erratic and food aid has become the major source of food for millions of vulnerable Zimbabweans. According to community representatives in 37 districts, a reduction of negative coping strategies has been noted over the last few months which is seen as a sign that food aid, provided to more than 3.4 million people per month through WFP's Vulnerable Group Feeding programme, has provided vulnerable households with a consistent source of food during the lean season.

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