HARARE, Aug 29, 2008 (AFP) - Zimbabwe on Friday lifted a ban on aid agencies suspended ahead of the June 27 presidential run-off over accusations that some of them were siding with the opposition.
"The government has with immediate effect lifted the suspension of operations of private voluntary organisations and NGOs," said a social welfare ministry statement read on state television.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had called Wednesday for the immediate resumption of aid programmes in the country, saying the country faced "a profound humanitarian crisis" after months of political deadlock and years of hyperinflation.
The welfare ministry said aid organisations involved included those working in "humanitarian and food assistance, relief, recovery and development, childcare and protection and rights of people with disabilities."
"Others are those involved in HIV/AIDS treatment, care and other support services," it said.
Aid organisations reacted cautiously.
"We are cautiously welcoming the lifting of the ban but we still need clarification on a number of issues," Fambai Ngirande, spokesman for the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), told AFP.
On Wednesday, Tsvangirai demanded that "NGOs be allowed to resume humanitarian assistance -- distributing food, medicines and life-saving assistance.
"This destructive policy of banning humanitarian assistance can be reversed with one letter," he said.
The government announced the blanket ban in June, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and the European Union. Amnesty International condemned it as "yet another attempt by the government to manipulate food distribution for political ends".
The country has been hard hit by the AIDS epidemic and aid groups had warned of a potential humanitarian crisis if the ban was not lifted.
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