More than 450 food insecure households in five districts have benefited under the drought relief food aid that is being implemented by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe at a time the country is facing one of its worst droughts induced by El Nino phenomenon.

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is distributing the food through its agency Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA).

Since the El Nino ­induced drought began last year, an estimated three million people are in need of food aid and livelihood support.

Speaking in an with RelZim, MeDRA Projects Officer, Mike Maketho, urged organisations most communities have been negatively affected by the drought.

“Church based organisations have to chip in with food assistance at this critical time when the country is trying to cope the El Nino induced droughts,” Maketho said.

Maketho, who has been in in the area of food security and humanitarian work in general for the past seven years, the organisation is determined to help the affected communities, he however, bemoaned lack of resources as the number of the vulnerable community has increased this year.

“The main challenge has been with regards to funding which has seen the organization targeting the most vulnerable of the communities while almost 90% of the population in Zimbabwe is affected by this drought.

Maketho further urged individual partners and the corporate world to partner with MeDRA to provide food for the vulnerable communities through donating any amount for this cause.

The Project Officer said the districts covered include: Muzarabani, Makonde, Matabeleland North, Masvingo and Chivi.

“It is the role of the church to stand for those who are oppressed and provide for those who lack, says Mike Maketho, MeDRA Projects Officer,” Maketho said.

The food hampers comprise of items beans, cooking oil and mealie meal.

MeDRA which is the Development arm of the Methodist church has been distributing food items in different communities during the lean season.