Back to Index

Zimbabwe Red Cross and rains offer Emilda a ray of hope
Tapiwa Gomo, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
March 02, 2006

http://www.ifrc.org/docs/News/06/06030201/index.asp

The knowledge that there may soon be crops to harvest in Bindura fills Emilda with a renewed sense of hope. "I am waiting for that day, when I can collect food from my field," she says.

Emilda spent most of last year depending on handouts and food baskets they received from the Zimbabwe Red Cross to provide for her sick daughters and ten grandchildren in a three-room house in Chipadze, an old township in Bindura, northeast of Harare. Her expectations are high that in a few months she will be able to have her own food as the rain season promises to be better than in the previous years.

"The last two years were bad for us because we did not have enough rain. I only harvested four bags of maize which lasted just three months," says Emilda.

Since May 2005, the family has been surviving on donations from well-wishers but as supplies have dwindled, hunger affects even the well off in her community. People have resorted to eating what they can find but this is not enough for Emilda’s sick daughters.

Three months ago, she received maize seeds and fertilizer from the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society and has become a little more optimistic.

"When I see my crops, I see a lot of hope and sometimes shed tears of joy", she says. "I just hope the rains will continue this way so that the maize crop can mature," she adds with a broad smile on her face.

Emilda’s story offers a positive example for more than 12 million people in southern Africa who are currently in urgent need of food assistance. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed its concern about the poor response to the food insecurity appeal launched in October 2005, which should see food aid provided at the same time as livelihood support from which Emilda got her seeds and fertilizers.

"The region generally received good rains this planting season and it is our hope that, if we provide them with seeds and fertilizer at the right time, they will be able to grow their own food," says Mr Kanongodza, food security appeals manager for the Red Cross in southern Africa.

But Mr Kanongodza is quick to point out that although agriculture support is vital, the International Federation remains concerned about the serious lack of food in many parts of the region, especially Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and some parts of Namibia.

"We are beginning to grow even more worried, especially during this lean period. If the average income earners have fallen in the vulnerable category, the situation for orphans, people living with HIV and AIDS, elderly and disabled people becomes even more critical," says Mr Kanongodza.

He appealed to donors and to the international community to help bridge the gap by urgently providing food assistance.

"Based on what I have seen so far, it looks like there is going to be a better harvest in most countries in the region," he says. The region generally received good rains. But some countries have experienced flooding which damages crops and properties, especially in Malawi where approximately 100,000 people have been made homeless by the floods.

Mr Kanongodza still insists that there are reasons to be hopeful, but only if communities get support at the right time. "It is not too late to donate as the lean period is now. Any available food in the affected communities is beyond the reach of the poor as prices are three times higher than before. In difficult times like these, every grain counts and no donation is too small." concludes Mr Kanongodza.

Visit the IFRC fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP