Zimbabwe crisis

ALERTNET REUTERS Last reviewed: 12-11-2008

AGRICULTURAL COLLAPSE RUINS ECONOMY

Hit by drought, HIV/AIDS and economic meltdown, Zimbabwe is in the grip of its worst humanitarian crisis since independence.

Female life expectancy 43 years

Agriculture devastated

World's highest inflation Twenty years ago the country was hailed as an African success story and dubbed the "breadbasket" of southern Africa. Now it has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world, and a large proportion of the population is dependent on food aid. Farming is the backbone of Zimbabwe's economy, but agriculture has been crippled by the combined effects of drought, HIV/AIDS and controversial government land reforms. Unemployment is sky-high and galloping inflation has made basic foodstuffs, fuel, health and school unaffordable for many. Millions of Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring countries. Zimbabwe's crisis has escalated since efforts to forge a power-sharing government - following disputed presidential elections in March 2008 - ended in deadlock.