Nearly half a million Zimbabweans will continue to receive food aid for another six months after the United States provided an extra $20 million to help ease the effect of drought on people in twelve of the country’s districts hit by the worst drought in a generation.
An El Nino-induced drought, that has hit Southern Africa and cut the output of the staple maize crop, has left close to 4 million Zimbabweans needing food aid.
More than 450,000 people, who faced a grim future after a food aid programme ended in March, will now continue to receive food or cash until October, when the next rainy season starts, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said.
The additional $20 million will bring to $55 million the amount provided by the U.S. to mitigate the effects of Drought since last year in June.