Various UN officials have continued to engage with the crisis by releasing a series of statements condemning the violence and offering assistance to help resolve the crisis. In a meeting with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on April 21, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern about the post-electoral situation and said he would consult with the AU on the way forward.136 He expressed further concern about the violence on May 7.137 On April 29, six UN Special Rapporteurs—on extrajudicial killings, torture, violence against women, housing, free expression, and human rights defenders—issued a statement condemning the violence in Zimbabwe. On May 13, 2008 the UN country team to Zimbabwe voiced its concerns over politically motivated violence.138 UN agencies have found it increasingly difficult to continue their work in the midst of the violence. In a statement on May 2, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the “increases in violence affecting children, and growing hindrances in reaching the most vulnerable.”139 On May 21, UNICEF issued another statement reporting that the violence had hampered ongoing relief efforts throughout the country.140 On May 13, UN Country Team Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Zimbabwe, Agustino Zacarias, released a statement expressing concern over the politically motivated violence and the humanitarian problems arising from the violence. In the statement the UN Country Team expressed its worries over those who had fled their homes—out of fear of reprisals—and lacked food, shelter and other basic social services, which could lead to unprecedented humanitarian needs.141 136 “Secretary General meets with Zimbabwean opposition leader over election crisis,” UN press statement, April 21, 2008, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26401&Cr=zimbabwe&Cr1 (accessed May 27, 2008). 137 “Secretary-General, closely following evolving situation in Zimbabwe, says international observers needed for future stages of electoral process,” UN press statement, May 7, 2008, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11553.doc.htm (accessed June 5, 2008). 138 “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). 139 “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). 140 “Conditions in Zimbabwe could reach crisis levels if violence continues,” UNICEF statement, May 21, 2008, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/zimbabwe_44071.html (accessed May 27, 2008). 141 “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). “Bullets for Each of You” 62