THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the country has completed its last cash distribution of 2019, which supported some 19,000 vulnerable residents in Harare’s sub-urban district of Epworth.
Those deemed most food insecure have been receiving monthly cash transfers from WFP since June, as part of an urban pilot project funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and the EU’s branch of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), said in a statement.
This year was the first time WFP provided assistance to an urban area in Zimbabwe.
“In 2020, WFP will expand its urban assistance programme across eight districts, nationwide.
“It will continue providing cash-based transfers on a monthly basis to those who need it most.”
As a result of this year’s severe drought, economic downturn and Cyclone Idai, around 8 million people were pushed into severe hunger.
Of this total, 2.2 million people live in urban areas.
