Zimbabwe’s children ‘wasting away’ – aid group

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) — Some of Zimbabwe’s children are “wasting away” as political turmoil and economic crisis have caused a severe food shortage, according to a report from Save the Children.

The number of acute child malnutrition cases has risen by almost two-thirds in the past year, the report from the UK-based agency said in its appeal to world donors for help.

“There is no excuse for failing to provide this food,” program director Lynn Walker said. “The innocent people of Zimbabwe should not be made to suffer for a political situation that is out of their control.”

Five million Zimbabweans — out of a population of about 12 million — are in need of food aid now, the report said. The group is appealing for 18,000 tons of food for next month.

“We have already been forced to reduce the rations of emergency food we are delivering because there isn’t enough to go around,” the report said. “If, as we fear, the food aid pipeline into Zimbabwe begins to fail in the new year the millions of people who rely on emergency food aid will suffer.”

Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since its independence from Great Britain 28 years ago. There is an acute shortage of all essentials such as cash, fuel, medical drugs, electricity and food.

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