Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe mVAM Bulletin #4: November 2016 - Food security stabilizes thanks to humanitarian assistance

Attachments

Key points:

  • Household food security stabilized for the first time in three months, thanks to increased humanitarian support to food-insecure households

  • Coping levels deteriorated in Manicaland North and Matebeleland North (Central) in November

  • Prices of maize meal, maize grain and sorghum increased in most surveyed markets

Situation Update

The food-insecure population in Zimbabwe is forecast to rise to 4 million by the peak of the lean season in January (source: Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee 2016 Livelihoods Assessment report). In November, WFP Zimbabwe scaled up its El Niño response under the lean season assistance programme, delivering cash-based transfers to 30 percent of households. The country office also implemented emergency school-feeding in three districts, and it initiated nutrition support to treat moderate acute malnutrition in 22 rural districts where global acute malnutrition rates are above 5 percent. November also marked the end of the productive asset creation programme. Summer crops are now being planted and above-average rainfall is forecast for the 2016–17 cropping season (source: FAO GIEWS).