France expands European aid links with Zimbabwe

A French-based humanitarian aid group is to open a new mission in Zimbabwe next month in a further sign of improved relations between Harare and charities.

Solidarites, which provides aid to victims of war and natural disasters around the globe, is to start a food security programme from July 1st onwards.

Constance Decorde, the group’s communications officer, said about six million Zimbabwean – two fifths of the country’s population – faced food shortages.

“This programme will target those living in urban and urban-fringe areas with no access to land and therefore no revenue,?? said Ms Decorde.

Solidarites is currently present in 13 countries and has previously provided humanitarian aid in Iraq, Albania, Serbia and Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia, Romania, Rwanda, Angola, Pakistan and Lebanon.

Ms Decorde said the programme involved setting up “family vegetable plots, together with distribution of tools, technical support and horticultural training to enable people to gain access to a means of subsistence”.

“In parallel, by building irrigation wells [to serve the family vegetable plots], these vulnerable populations will receive a minimum level of revenue [through a food for work scheme] so that they may be able to meet their basic food needs,” she added.