Help for Zimbabwe Jews

World Jewish Relief supports Zimbabwe Jews

17/10/2007

London, October 2007: With the situation in Zimbabwe causing increasing concern world wide, World Jewish Relief (WJR), in its capacity as the charity that channels the UK Jewish community’s response to international disasters has continued its funding to support Zimbabwe’s Jewish citizens. As Zimbabwe’s economy continues to plummet, many of its citizens are struggling to survive.

Ongoing political and economic issues have forced much of the population to eke out a hand to mouth existance in a country which was reknowned only a decade ago for its agricultrual productivity.Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, has a population of 1.5 million people. Sadly the Jewish community in Zimbabwe has shrunk considerably in recent years and now numbers only a couple of hundred. Most are elderly and 22 reside at Savyon Lodge, a Jewish care home (also home to three non-Jewish residents).

Bulawayo currently suffers from acute water shortages, which has lead to an increase in water borne diseases as people resort to digging small wells and drinking contaminated water. Unreliable electricity supplies have had a dramatic impact in bringing the city’s water supply system to almost a standstill. With recent maize harvests poor, both food and water supplies add to the everyday burden of life in Zimbabwe.

The dire situation has impacted on all aspects of society, and Savyon Lodge now finds it impossible to meet the daily needs of its residents,. WJR has allocated funds to finance essential supplies to be brought in from South Africa which include basic food such as flour, powdered milk, margarine and vegetables, as well as diesel for the generator.

It is hoped that this modest support will continue and even expand to assist larger numbers of Zimbabweans in need.

Paul Anticoni, WJR’s Chief Executive, commented:“As the major humanitarian arm of the British Jewish community, WJR is responding to the crisis in Zimbabwe by providing these essential funds in a bid to ease the suffering of needy Zimbabwean Jews, who have until now been hugely neglected. We recognise that our support is small in proportion to the need but we anticipate being able to scale up our engagement in Zimbabwe over the coming year."