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 Millions of Zimbabweans will be affected by the Mugabe regime's ban on international humanitarian efforts in the country. Mugabe has accused aid organisations of supporting the opposition ahead of the second round of the presidential elections, due to be held on 27 June - allegations which are strongly denied by the organisations in question. Currently, around 4 million Zimbabweans are estimated to be dependent on food aid.
Human rights groups and aid NGOs claim that the intention of the ban is to remove independent witnesses to the Mugabe government's campaign of violence against the opposition, and to manipulate food supplies as a political tool in the election. According to UNICEF spokesperson Veronique Taveau, "500,000 children [are] no longer receiving health care, treatment for HIV/AIDS, aid towards education and the food that they need". European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel stated, "This ban must be lifted right away. I am deeply distressed to think that hundreds of thousands of people who depend on aid from the European Commission and others for their very survival now face an even more uncertain future. It is essential that relief workers be given unrestricted and secure access so they can provide assistance to the most vulnerable." Mugabe has said he will never accept a victory by the opposition. 'It shall never happen ... as long as I am alive and those who fought for the country are alive,' he said. 'We are prepared to fight for our country and to go to war for it.' Source: |
