This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7722631.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UN cuts food rations in Zimbabwe UN cuts food rations in Zimbabwe
(30 minutes later)
The UN food agency says it has started cutting rations to four million people in Zimbabwe.The UN food agency says it has started cutting rations to four million people in Zimbabwe.
The World Food Programme says it has had no response at all to its $140m appeal to feed Zimbabwe.The World Food Programme says it has had no response at all to its $140m appeal to feed Zimbabwe.
WFP warns that food will run out entirely by January unless fresh support is provided, as it takes six weeks to reach rural areas.WFP warns that food will run out entirely by January unless fresh support is provided, as it takes six weeks to reach rural areas.
Up to half the 10m population could need food before the next harvest is expected in April, donors say.Up to half the 10m population could need food before the next harvest is expected in April, donors say.
WFP spokesman Richard Lee said 2kg of maize and nearly 1kg of beans were being cut from each person's ration pack to make current stocks last longer. The agency says it has cut each person's monthly cereal ration to 10kg (22lb) from 12kg, and pulse ration to 1kg from 1.8kg, to make current stocks last longer.
WFP spokesman Richard Lee warned that the situation would become "critical" in many parts of the country in the coming months.
"We're already hearing stories about families living on at most one meal a day, children going into the bush to search for wild food and wild fruit," Mr Lee told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"It's a very serious situation and we're still four-and-a-half months away from the next harvest."
Zimbabwe has been grappling with food shortages since 2001.
The WFP fed two million people in October, the first month of a large-scale aid project, but the figure is expected to rise to 5.1 million by early 2009.
Last weekend, Zimbabwe's opposition leader warned that at least one million people could starve to death in a year if political deadlock continues.Last weekend, Zimbabwe's opposition leader warned that at least one million people could starve to death in a year if political deadlock continues.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe have agreed to form a unity government to revive the economy but they cannot decide how to share out cabinet posts.Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe have agreed to form a unity government to revive the economy but they cannot decide how to share out cabinet posts.