HARARE, Jan 1 (AFP) - Around 15,000 cattle have starved to death in drought-ravaged southern Zimbabwe, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Wednesday.

The death of the cattle, which the paper said occurred over the last three months, is likely to compound a famine here that threatens eight million of the country's 11.6 million people.

The Herald, quoting the country's top government veterinarian, said farmers in the area had refused to destock in the hope that summer rains would restore grazing.

"They have, however, not been lucky,

700,000 children vaccinated against measles in Malawi

• Humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates
• UNICEF still needs US$ 18 million to address the crisis

Click here to see southern African Drought Affected Areas

1. EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

Census and the Demographic and Health Survey (DNS) augment database in Zambia

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 31 (AFP) - Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has donated 3,000 tonnes of maize to famine-hit Zimbabwe, a statement from the prime minister's office said here Tuesday.

The statement said the minister of state in the prime minister's office, William Lukuvi, will on behalf of Mkapa hand over the donation on Tuesday to Zimbabwean authorities in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Several southern African countries, including Zimbabwe, face serious food shortages due to various reasons including drought, floods, civil wars and bad governance.

JOHANNESBURG - In response to warnings that a worsening humanitarian crisis is on the horizon in southern Africa next year, the international donor community has contributed vital funds to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) that will help save millions of lives across the region in the coming months.
Fresh end-of-year contributions, totaling more than US$ 25.2 million, have lifted WFP's emergency operation out of a weeks-long funding slump. With the new donations, the largest from Japan, the African Development Bank (ADB), Germany and Canada, the operation is now 62 percent resourced.

Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Zimbabwe has ordered 15,000 tons of maize seed from South Africa to bridge a domestic shortfall in the current farming season, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said Friday.
Zimbabwe is experiencing a severe shortage of maize seed and key farming inputs such as fertiliser, which threatens to disrupt cropping and the government's controversial agrarian reforms.

A government agency announced Tuesday that land under the cultivation of maize, the country's staple food, was inadequate, with almost half the farming season already spent.

Op-ed article from The Washington Post
This byliner by James Morris, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, appeared December 25, 2002, in The Washington Post. It is in the public domain. There are no republication restrictions.

(begin byliner)

Aid for a world in crisis

By James T. Morris

Wednesday, December 25, 2002

In this season of sharing and goodwill, there is a sad truth to be faced: Despite the generosity of donor countries and the enormous sacrifices of relief workers, the humanitarian agencies

In June, CAFOD's programme officer in Southern Africa told us that, if we didn't act straight away, the food crisis in Southern Africa would escalate out of control before Christmas.
Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, CAFOD has raised more than =A31.8 million since then to help partners respond to the growing emergency in the region. In Zimbabwe, supplementary feeding programmes reached 360,000 people across 11 districts in November alone.

So what is the situation like in Southern Africa as Christmas approaches?

"The rains are very late,"

This Ops Update is intended for reporting on emergency appeals.
Launched on 2 May 2002 for CHF 6,803,000 for 12 months revised 22 July to CHF 89,285,274 (USD 61.6 m/EUR 60.9m) in cash, kind and services to assist a minimum of 1.3 million beneficiaries for 12 months.
Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000
Period covered: - 27 November - 12 December 2002

IN BRIEF

Appeal coverage: 44.1%
Related Appeals: Southern Africa 2002 Annual Regional Appeal no. 01.16/2002
Outstanding needs: CHF 47,926,580

The Department for International Development Clare Short today announced a further £30 million contribution to meet emergency assistance in Africa. £15m of the contribution will go to meeting emergency needs in Ethiopia and the other £15 million will be put to humanitarian assistance and recovery programmes across southern Africa.

Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development said:

"I am very worried about food shortages in Africa. There are serious problems in Southern Africa and Ethiopia. The problems have different causes and therefore pose different challenges.