International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Appeals via the Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)

Published purpose

The people of Zimbabwe are coping with the impacts of an unprecedented cholera outbreak, the world's highest inflation rate and one of the world's lowest life expectancies. Over five million people are in need of food assistance. Another year of erratic weather is anticipated in 2009, which combined with the failure to procure and adequately distribute seed stock is expected to lead to another failed harvest. Unemployment is estimated at 80 percent in Zimbabwe, which also has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS. CIDA's contribution is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide displaced people in Zimbabwe with emergency food and essential household items, and to help them to return to their homes. Activities also focus on supporting local health systems, by providing medicines and supplies to health centres and hospitals in three provinces as well as training and food for hospital staff. This project expects to provide 5,000 beneficiaries with food rations, essential household items, and temporary shelters and over one million beneficiaries with access to improved health care.