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UN World Food Programme gears up to provide for 3 million in Zimbabwe

UN World Food Programme gears up to provide for 3 million in Zimbabwe

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The United Nations food relief agency is preparing to feed some 3 million people in drought-stricken Zimbabwe, following what the UN humanitarian envoy for southern Africa called a “good meeting” with President Robert Mugabe.

“The Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), James Morris, who is the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, says he had good meetings yesterday with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the daily noon briefing.

WFP says the Government would welcome food aid from the United Nations and other agencies,” he added. Mr. Morris also met with government ministers, the UN Country Team, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors as part of this 11-day tour of the region.

With the help of the UN Country Team, WFP was preparing to obtain and distribute 200,000 to 300,000 tons of maize in the southern African country, he said.

“James Morris also raised the issue of forced urban land clearance and the President assured him that human rights would be respected,” Mr. Dujarric said.