Drought-hit Zimbabwe raises aid appeal to 3.3 bln USD

HARARE, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe raised its aid appeal to 3.3 billion U.S. dollars on Monday, up from the initial 2.2 billion dollars announced last month to cater to 60 percent of the country's population that will be food insecure until March next year due to drought.

According to Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, the number of food insecure people is now estimated at 9 million, up from the initial 7.7 million, constituting 60 percent of the country's population.