New York  - The top United Nations coordinator for emergency humanitarian operations said Friday up to 2 million people in Zimbabwe would be affected by President Robert Mugabe's decision to suspend the activities of foreign relief agencies.

"This is a deplorable decision that comes at a critical humanitarian juncture for the people of Zimbabwe," John Holmes said, urging Mugabe to rescind the decision.

He said most UN humanitarian programmes in that country have been handled by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"If voluntary organization and NGOs are not able to work, humanitarian aid for at least 2 million of the most poor and vulnerable of Zimbabwe's people, particularly children, will be severely restricted, although we do our best to make up for this," Holmes said.

Mugabe on Friday called the field operations of aid agencies and charities illegal and ordered them to suspend their work in the country. (dpa)