case l was already surviving on wild fruits so l had to sell 10 kilograms of that seed and then l washed the treated seed and ground it into maize meal so that my family [could] survive…a few more weeks.20 Analysts estimate that the number of Zimbabweans needing food assistance is likely to increase in 2009 due to unavailability of seed and other farming inputs. State-Sanctioned Post-Election Violence The protracted violence throughout Zimbabwe in the months after general elections in March 2008 added to food insecurity in the country. Human Rights Watch has collected evidence that shows that state-sponsored groups such as the ZANU-PF sponsored “youth militia” and “war veterans,” state security forces, and supporters systematically killed livestock, and destroyed and plundered the homes and food granaries (reserves) of thousands of suspected MDC activists and supporters in order to ensure their displacement and inability to vote.21 An estimated 36,000 Zimbabweans were displaced by the violence and left in need of food, water, and shelter.22 Looted food was given to soldiers, youth militia, and ZANU-PF supporters at camps that had been set up throughout the country and used to beat and torture MDC supporters. On May 13, Augustino Zacarias, the UN Country Team Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Zimbabwe, released a statement expressing concern over the politically motivated violence and the rising humanitarian problems. He expressed worries about those who fled their homes—out of fear of reprisals—and lacked food, shelter, and other basic social services, which could trigger unprecedented humanitarian needs.23 On May 28, UNICEF released a similar statement denouncing the political violence that had “displaced at least 10,000 children” in Zimbabwe, and was “affecting the continued delivery of humanitarian relief to children and their families in parts of the country.”24 20 Human Rights Watch interview with farmer, Rusape, Manicaland, November 27, 2008. 21 See Human Rights Watch, “Bullets for Each of You”: State-Sponsored Violence since the March 29 Elections, June 2008, http://hrw.org/reports/2008/zimbabwe0608. 22 UN Consolidated Appeal Process for Zimbabwe 2009, http://ochaonline.un.org/AppealsFunding/CAP2009/tabid/5120/language/en-US/Default.aspx (accessed January 12, 2009). 23 "Zimbabwe: UN voices concern over politically-motivated violence," UN press statement, May 13, 2008, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26658&Cr=zimbabwe&Cr1= (accessed May 27, 2008). 24 “Conditions in Zimbabwe could reach crisis levels if situation continues,” UNICEF press release, May 28, 2008, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/zimbabwe_44071.html (accessed January 9, 2009); "UNICEF deplores impact of violence on children," UNICEF press release, May 2, 2008, http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail.asp?news_id=1121 (accessed May 27, 2008). 13 Human Rights Watch January 2009