Oxfam - part of the problem ?
Peter | 17.06.2005 14:20
A number of letters have been written to Oxfam detailing how food aid they send is being used as a political weapon in Zimbabwe and distributed to only Zanu PF supporters.
Despite masses of evidence this is the letter received.
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The Executive Director
Zimbabwe Democracy Trust
PO Box 15
London
SW6 3TU
Dear Annabel Hughes
Re: Your letter concerning food distributions in Zimbabwe.
I apologise for not replying to your letter much earlier.
Oxfam has a long history of delivering food aid based on the criterion of vulnerability. From our experience in many countries we know that there are many ways in which food aid can be manipulated and, therefore, we pay great attention and make great efforts to ensure that it reaches the intended beneficiaries. One of the key ways we do this is in monitoring food baskets at the point of distribution and then also in post distribution monitoring at the household level.
Specifically in the case of Zimbabwe, Oxfam will be delivering food using our own logistics and experienced personnel. This will be done in close partnership with the local communities. We aim to ensure that the most vulnerable communities and the most vulnerable people within those communities are the ones that receive the food aid. We believe that we can establish systems that will make it very difficult for external manipulation to take place.
Oxfam is currently undertaking food distributions in North Zvishavane. We have finished the first phase of the distribution that was done using community mobilisation techniques. This ensured that representatives of the communities with whom we are working have the responsibility for fair distribution. This will help to exclude potential political interference in distributions. Next week we will be conducting household monitoring to ensure that the food continues to be used by the intended beneficiaries.
As the programme expands, Oxfam will continue to build on the lessons learned from our initial efforts.
Yours sincerely,
Graham MacKay
Humanitarian Coordinator
Southern and West Africa
Oxfam GB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Executive Director
Zimbabwe Democracy Trust
PO Box 15
London
SW6 3TU
Dear Annabel Hughes
Re: Your letter concerning food distributions in Zimbabwe.
I apologise for not replying to your letter much earlier.
Oxfam has a long history of delivering food aid based on the criterion of vulnerability. From our experience in many countries we know that there are many ways in which food aid can be manipulated and, therefore, we pay great attention and make great efforts to ensure that it reaches the intended beneficiaries. One of the key ways we do this is in monitoring food baskets at the point of distribution and then also in post distribution monitoring at the household level.
Specifically in the case of Zimbabwe, Oxfam will be delivering food using our own logistics and experienced personnel. This will be done in close partnership with the local communities. We aim to ensure that the most vulnerable communities and the most vulnerable people within those communities are the ones that receive the food aid. We believe that we can establish systems that will make it very difficult for external manipulation to take place.
Oxfam is currently undertaking food distributions in North Zvishavane. We have finished the first phase of the distribution that was done using community mobilisation techniques. This ensured that representatives of the communities with whom we are working have the responsibility for fair distribution. This will help to exclude potential political interference in distributions. Next week we will be conducting household monitoring to ensure that the food continues to be used by the intended beneficiaries.
As the programme expands, Oxfam will continue to build on the lessons learned from our initial efforts.
Yours sincerely,
Graham MacKay
Humanitarian Coordinator
Southern and West Africa
Oxfam GB
Peter