The top UN coordinator for emergency humanitarian operations
Thursday raised alarm about the worsening situation in Zimbabwe, saying the
coming harvest would likely only cover one- quarter of the country's needs.
John Holmes told the UN Security Council that the serious humanitarian crisis
was of increasing concern.
He criticized anew the government of President Robert Mugabe, who has forbidden
foreign aid organizations from working within the country as he tries to hang
on to power indefinitely.
Next week, Haile Menkerios, the UN undersecretary for
political affairs in Africa, plans to travel to Zimbabwe ahead of the run-off
elections on June 27 against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was
re-arrested again Thursday as he was campaigning for office, dpa reported.