US avails $10 million for humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe

The United States government has provided $10 million dollars in additional humanitarian assistance in response to the critical drought that has hit Zimbabwe.
 
The donation, provided through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) brings the total US government contribution in response to the critical food situation in Zimbabwe to $35 million.
 
Formally handing over the donation to the World Food Programme (WFP), US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Harry K. Thomas Jr. said of the amount, $5 million would be allocated for food rations and cash transfers for the purchase of food. He added that the other $5 million in new funding would allow WFP to restart its Productive Asset Creation program, which would provide monthly food rations or cash transfers in exchange for labour to build and rehabilitate community assets such as irrigation schemes, dip tanks and dams.
 
WFP Zimbabwe Country Director Eddie Rowe said the contribution will go a long way in addressing food security issues in light of the El Nino-induced drought.