Zimbabwe: Severe Food Insecurity – The Zimbabwean

Across Zimbabwe food insecurity is growing, with an estimated 3.6 million rural Zimbabweans in need of humanitarian assistance (IPC Phase 3 or higher), an increase from the 2.3 million estimated between June and September 2019. Widespread drought — which led to a poor 2019 harvest — combined with Zimbabwe’s precarious economic conditions are contributing to low food availability, rising food prices, and very high inflation rates that are reducing purchasing power. Cyclone Idai exacerbated the situation by further disrupting cropping activities in eastern Zimbabwe. The volatile economy and the impending lean season (peak lean season January to March 2020) threaten to increase the number of food insecure Zimbabweans.