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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Zimbabwe aid ban 'puts millions at risk' |
| 2008-06-07 |
| Millions of people in Zimbabwe already facing economic hardship and hunger are being put at risk by a government ban on relief organizations, the United Nations warned Friday, saying it would urge a lifting of restrictions. Agostinho Zacarias, the U.N.'s top humanitarian coodinator in Zimbabwe, met senior government figures Friday to try to get the ban overturned and allow aid agencies resume providing food, clean water, medical care and other services. "The government said they didn't take this measure to starve the people. They have their reasons. The officials we discussed this with were not prepared to advance any reasons," he said. So I guess starvation is just an unwanted side effect. Zacarias said the ban was likely to affect millions of people. He also met with church leaders to explore aid alternatives as they don't fall under the category of aid groups hit by the ban. Bright Matonga, deputy information minister for Zimbabwe, accused several non-governmental organizations of telling people they would not receive food unless they voted for an opposition presidential candidate. The U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, said Zimbabwean authorities were using food as a weapon to intimidate the population and hold on to power. "What we have is a bunch of greedy people who want to remain in power at all costs," McGee said from Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. McGee said people seeking food from the government are forced to give up their identity cards if they are not registered as supporters of the government, meaning they will be unable to vote. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #1 Zimbabwe aid ban 'puts millions Fixed it. |
| Posted by: charger 2008-06-07 15:52 |