CARE International in Zimbabwe was pleased today to
receive notice the Government of Zimbabwe will permit registered humanitarian organisations to resume full operations, effective immediately. The announcement was made in a press statement from Mr.
L.C. Museka, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of the Government of Zimbabwe."CARE warmly welcomes this news. This timely
announcement will allow CARE to quickly mobilise," said Stephen Gwynn-Vaughan, Director of CARE Zimbabwe. "CARE looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Zimbabwe to aid the
people as CARE has always done – independently, impartially and apolitically."CARE Zimbabwe has resources prepositioned and staff are prepared to quickly restart all programs that
were suspended in June. Approximately half a million beneficiaries were impacted when CARE operations were suspended. CARE programs in Zimbabwe cover small economic activity development, agriculture
and natural resources development, water and sanitation improvement, health and nutrition – including helping those affected by HIV and AIDS, disaster preparedness, and emergency
relief.Given universal and unimpeded access to beneficiaries, CARE is confident that by the end of October it will be able to provide hot meals to 100,000 vulnerable children each day and
provide basic rations to 500,000 more people who lack food security. CARE will be able to provide training and distribute agricultural inputs to over 20,000 households before the planting season
begins. The resumption of CARE’s other programs will benefit over 120,000 people in the poorest communities of the Masvingo and Midlands provinces."I would like to express
CARE’s gratitude to our major donors, including USAID, CIDA, DFID, SIDA, the European Commission, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for their unwavering support over the past few
months," said Gwynn-Vaughan.On Monday, September 1, CARE will join other registered humanitarian organisations in meeting with government officials to discuss the specifics of resuming
humanitarian operations.Media contact: Sophie Kummer in London, Communications Officer, Tel: 0782 456 3810
Kenneth Walker in Johannesburg, Africa Communications
Manager Tel: +27 11 234 1221 Cell: +27 82 336 8312
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
South African President Thabo Mbeki (R) is welcomed on arrival at Harare International airport by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe August 9 2008. Mbeki, the region's Zimbabwe mediator, is in Harare and ...
