- The United Nations agency has announced an award of US$ 11 million in humanitarian aid to the impoverished Zimbabwe to tackle the multiple humanitarian crisis.
United Nations Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, John Holmes, said the money would be drawn from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and channelled through a number of UN agencies operating in Zimbabwe.
According to Mr Holmes, Zimbabwe's fund is part of a US$75 million humanitarian aid package allocated to fight food shortages, disease and conflict for 14 countries in Africa and Asia.
Mr Holmes said that the new UN aid would cover food, health and other areas, where Zimbabwe is facing a humanitarian crisis.
The country faces a cholera crisis which has claimed 3,500 lives and affected 70,000 others, as well as severe food shortages. The UN also estimates that at least 6.9 million people, more than half the population, need emergency food aid.
If Zimbabwe is to form the new government by 13 February as an order from Southern African Development Community, the country has a chance to recover, though economic experts claim the progress will be slow.
The country has a record inflation of 231 million percent, though other economists argue it is way beyond what the government claims it to be.
The Central Emergency Response Fund is bankrolled by voluntary contributions from member states, non-governmental organisations, local governments, the private sector and individual donors.
The fund was established in 2006 to help agencies respond rapidly to new or deteriorating humanitarian situations. It is administered by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español