Press Statement From USAID Administrator, Henrietta H. Fore: USAID Calls on Zimbabwe...

Press Statement From USAID Administrator, Henrietta H. Fore: USAID Calls on
Zimbabwe to Allow Humanitarian Access to Needy People

WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- USAID calls for the
Government of Zimbabwe to immediately and completely rescind the June 4 NGO
suspension order. In addition to this rescission, USAID also calls upon the
Government of Zimbabwe to:
-- Communicate to all levels and divisions of Zimbabwean authorities -
including national, provincial, district, and ward - that the
suspension of NGOs has been completely rescinded.

-- Guarantee the safety and security of all humanitarian aid workers.

-- Guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations to provide
impartial, need-based assistance to affected populations and to monitor
aid programs.

-- Respect the right of affected populations to move freely to seek and
receive protection and assistance without fear of intimidation or
unlawful seizure of humanitarian aid.

According to the United Nations, nearly 5 million Zimbabweans will require
emergency food aid in the coming months, and as a result of election-related
violence, thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. A
humanitarian crisis looms, yet the Government of Zimbabwe continues to suspend
most non-governmental organizations' (NGO) access to vulnerable people in dire
need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
After traveling to Zimbabwe and consulting with humanitarian
organizations, UN agencies, donor representatives, and Zimbabwean citizens, Ky
Luu, USAID's Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, has
seen first-hand the impact of this suspension of humanitarian access. "For
two months now, humanitarian workers have been ordered to stay in their
offices instead of delivering aid to vulnerable children and families. UN
agencies have been blocked when trying to access areas of greatest need.
Humanitarian workers are routinely harassed and intimidated, and the financial
resources of many organizations have been impounded by the Zimbabwean
authorities," Luu said.
For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance
programs in Zimbabwe, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/5lh5qg
SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development

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