§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the(a) extent and (b) degree of malnutrition in Zimbabwe and of the (i) distribution and (ii) availability of food supplies in Zimbabwe, broken down by region. [90046]
§ Clare ShortNo credible nutritional assessment took place during 2002. Such data as was collected suggests that in August 2002, 24 per cent. of six month to five year olds were underweight. This compares to 13 per cent. in 1999. This indicates a significant level of chronic or 'background' malnutrition. Under current circumstances it is reasonable to predict that levels of severe malnutrition will be increasing. DFID is funding a rapid nutrition assessment, to include other health indicators, which will take place in the first two weeks of February.
The following table gives the distribution of maize since April 2002 by Government (as at early November) and by the World Food Programme (as at end December). Other food flows from bilateral feeding programmes are not currently available by district and are lower in total than WFP flows. These statistics do not include wheat and other commodities.
tonnes Area Government Worldfood programme Masvingo 34,662 36,174 Matabeleland 33,588 26,972 Mashonaland 96,431 21,040 Midlands 44,102 15,234 Manicaland 49,259 14,513 Harare 218,823 — Bulawayo 92,438 — Total 569,303 113,933