Zimbabwe has dropped out of the headlines but the country continues to suffer from major inflation and serious food shortage. In a recent personal account sent to Headlines from Zimbabwe, the author reported: “I couldn’t find much to buy in the local supermarkets just now. Only the foreign currency shelves had anything on them, so my Z$150,000 or so was useless.”

In the light of this situation, Jesuits in Britain have launched an urgent food appeal for Zimbabwe, following a request from the recently appointed provincial of Zimbabwe, Fr Stephen Buckland SJ. “While the protracted political negotiations continue, most ordinary Zimbabweans are starving,” explained Fr Tim Curtis SJ, director of Jesuit Missions UK. “Their currency is worthless and their salary does not even pay their bus fare to get to work. That’s why Fr Buckland has made it an urgent priority to bring some relief to these people. Since taking over as Provincial earlier this year, he has been assessing the situation and working out what contribution the Jesuits in Zimbabwe can make to the country and its people.”

British Jesuits are raising money to bring two consignments of food to Zimbabwe, each worth 180,000GBP (225,000EUR/290,000USD). To donate online through credit card and for more information in English, click here. Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Jesuit Missions, 11 Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London SW19 4LR, United Kingdom. The German Jesuits also have a fund called “Hungerhilfe” (help for the hungry) for Zimbabwe. For online donations (by direct debit/Bankeinzug), choose “Hungerhilfe” in the drop down menu on this website (in German).