§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of deaths from malnutrition in Zimbabwe in 2001; and if she will make a statement. [21519]
§ Clare ShortAccording to a national survey carried out by the Ministry of Health in 2000, 29 per cent. of children aged six months to six years were chronically malnourished. However, the situation is deteriorating. A recent World Food Programme assessment concluded that due to the combined effects of the highest incidence rate of HIV/AIDS in the world (35 per cent. of the population are infected), the deteriorating economic situation and reduction in food production, approximately 35 per cent. of the population, or about 700,000 people, now have inadequate income to procure sufficient food to meet544W basic needs. The UK Government have committed £4 million to supplementary feeding programmes working through non-governmental channels.