HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's economic meltdown has also threatened regional security and added urgency to finding a political settlement.
Western nations urged Zimbabwe's government Friday to lift restrictions on aid agencies and charities. The government imposed the restrictions June 4, accusing the groups of favoring opposition supporters in the distribution of food aid.
"The June 4 suspension of humanitarian operations is estimated to have affected more than 1.5 million Zimbabweans already," said a statement issued in Harare and signed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Commission.
That's a lot of folks lining up against you, Mugabe?
Whose missing? They must be on your side, 'eh?
It expressed concern that the restrictions were still in place two weeks after the July 21 agreement, which pledged that humanitarian assistance would be restored.
"This year's poor harvest means that 5 million Zimbabweans will face a severe food crisis," it said. "Without the immediate resumption of food aid across the country, widespread hunger and worsening malnutrition are unavoidable.--more--"
From what I've seen today, the WHOLE CONTINENT is STARVING!
