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WFP Emergency Report No. 39 of 2006
World Food Programme (WFP)
September 29, 2006

http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=78&Key=706

Zimbabwe
(a) WFP is currently facing significant pipeline shortfalls in cereals, pulses and corn-soya blend. As a result, food distributions for October 2006 will be cut by 66%, affecting some 364,000 school children and 190,000 chronically ill people and orphans supported through the home based care and orphans and other vulnerable children programmes. In addition, beneficiaries of the urban feeding programme will receive half rations. The pipeline is expected to slightly improve in November through to January 2007, after which stocks will be depleted. WFP is in urgent need of US$ 61 million or 97,000 tons of food to cover the food gap, particularly during the critical lean season.

(b) While the availability of maize grain has improved in some parts of the country and prices remain relatively stable, this commodity remains scarce in Matebeleland North and South provinces (western and southern Zimbabwe). According to WFP monitoring reports, food security amongst home based care and orphans and other vulnerable children programme beneficiaries continues to be precarious with these groups relying predominantly on WFP food assistance. Likewise, during a recently completed school feeding survey, teachers and local leaders interviewed in Matebeleland North and South expressed apprehension for the coming months due to insufficient food at the household level resulting from poor harvests in the 2005/6 agricultural season and severe economic constraints.

(c) Annual inflation is now reported at 1,200%, up from 613% in January 2006. Similarly, the minimum expenditure required for a household to consume at least 2,100 calories per day rose by 257% since January 2006.

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