UAE sends 50 tonnes of food items to Zimbabwe

Essentials will be distributed among families and vulnerable sections of population hit by rampant inflation

Food sent to Zimbabwe will be distributed to thousands of families and vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly. Wam

The UAE on Tuesday sent a plane carrying 50 tonnes of essential food items to Zimbabwe.

The food will be distributed to thousands of families and vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly, news agency Wam said.

"Sending food items to the Republic of Zimbabwe reflects the strong relations between our two nations and demonstrates the humanitarian role played by the UAE to support African countries and alleviate the humanitarian crises they face," said Dr Jassim Al Qasimi, UAE ambassador to Zimbabwe.

Mr Al Qasimi said Zimbabwe was one of the first countries to benefit from medical aid sent by the UAE during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 8,000 healthcare workers benefited from the assistance, which helped their efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Food inflation

Rising prices and a fast depreciating currency have pushed many Zimbabweans to the brink, reminding people of when the southern African country faced world-record inflation of 5 billion per cent in 2008.

After being scrapped in 2009 to put an end to hyperinflation, the Zimbabwean dollar was reintroduced in February 2019. However, the currency has lost more than three quarters of its value this year, as businesses and families are favouring the US dollar to pay for everything from food to fuel, medicine and school fees.

With inflation jumping from 191 per cent in June to 257 per cent in July, among the highest in the world, many Zimbabweans fear the country is heading back to such hyperinflation.

The World Bank this month said in its latest report on global food insecurity that Zimbabwe was among the countries worst affected by the global food inflation crisis. Second only to Lebanon, nominal food inflation in southern African nation reached 255 per cent.

UAE delivers Dh13bn in aid

Recent figures released to mark World Humanitarian Day revealed that the UAE has provided Dh13 billion of foreign aid since the start of last year.

The biggest recipient of aid was Yemen, which received Dh1.16bn.

In his first address to the nation after becoming President, Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE would be a friend to those in need, delivering support and humanitarian aid “regardless of race or religion”.

He said in his speech last month: “Continuing Sheikh Zayed’s approach, we will work to strengthen our role among the world’s leading countries by providing humanitarian aid and by continuing to extend a helping hand to communities in need around the world, irrespective of religion or race."