IRC humanitarian assistance benefits 10 222 poor households in Cyclone Idai hit areas

Staff Writer
THE International Rescue Committee (IRC) agricultural donations and cash transfers humanitarian assistance will target 10 222 households in the Cyclone Idai hit areas in a bid to alleviate hunger and diseases in the communities.
In a statement the IRC country director Zvidzai Maburutse bemoaned the impact of climate change on crop and livestock production.
He said the emergence of the Covid19 pandemic has also worsened daily survival for many families resulting in poverty and hunger.
“We are currently working to reduce the impact by providing cash as immediate support to buy basic needs. Considerations are also being made towards supporting communities to recover livelihoods through seeds that can withstand drought; water saving technology like drip kits and training of farmers on climate proofing,” he said.
Maburutse urged the donor community to partner IRC for the humanitarian cause to see the light of the day.
The 10,222 households in Chimanimani and Chipinge are benefiting from feeding programmes while 4380 farmers from 34 operational Wards in Beitbridge and Nyanga are being supported with smart agriculture inputs.
Recently, the World Food Programme said Zimbabwe is amongst the world’s top 16 global hunger hotspots.
In recent years, drought and crop failure exacerbated by macro-economic challenges have created a humanitarian crisis for over 7 million people in Zimbabwe leaving many unable to meet their daily food needs.
Inflation coupled with the impact of economic reforms policies have y eroded incomes creating a huge population of the working poor who cannot afford to foot decent meal for their families