UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Office for the Coordination of Bureau de Coordination des Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) des Affaires Humanitaires Zimbabwe

Humanitarian Situation in Zimbabwe Issue Number 2 Reporting Period 01 – 29 February 2008

HIGHLIGHTS • The Dept of Met indicated that there are no flooding threats in the foreseeable future though there was the need to be prepared since we are still in the La Nina phase. • Crops have been severely affected by waterlogging in most parts of Mashonaland, particularly Hurungwe, and this is likely to lead to generalized crop failure.( Agritex ) • Repeated flood assessments in the flood affected areas have shown that health needs are of major concern; severe diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks have been reported in provinces, especially those bordering the neighbouring countries ( IOM ) • Though the country has sufficient vaccines, injection supplies and LP gas to meet the requirement for the year, the vaccines are in danger of being destroyed because of breakage of the cold chain and non availability of the cold chain equipment itself at some health facilities( UNICEF ) • 162 cases of cholera and 20 deaths have been reported in Mudzi as at 25 February. The probable source of this outbreak, which is yet to be confirmed, is believed to be a contaminated borehole water.( WHO )

I. FUNDING • Zimbabwe 2008 Consolidated Appeal Funding – Financial Tracking System as at 29 February 2008: • Requested Funds: 317 million USD • Funding : 11.7 million USD • Funding Coverage: 4% • Pledges: 15.0 million • For further details visit: http://ocha.unog.ch/fts2/pageloader.aspx?page=emerg-emergencyDetails&appealID=789

• Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) The CERF Secretariat has recommended for approval the CERF submissions for UNICEF health (US$300 000), UNICEF watsan(US$983 950), and UNHCR projects. The other projects are yet to be recommended for approval pending clarifications and revisions being sought. II. ESSENTIAL STATISTICS/DATA 11,750 million country population in 10 provinces, with 61 districts (Central Statistical Office CSO) 15.6% HIV prevalence rate (MoHCW National Estimates 2007) ≈ 1.3 million people of all ages are HIV infected (MoHCW National Estimates 2007). ≈ 1.6 million children orphaned by 2003, about 1 million due to AIDS (UNICEF, National Estimates 2007) 16.6% children malnourished as measured by MDG indicator underweight (DHS, 2005/6) 26,470.8% inflation rate (CSO, 4th February 2008 .)

III. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION ANALYSIS, RESPONSE AND COMMON SERVICES

Agriculture [ from Agritex ] • Major food crops(maize, small grains and pulses) in parts of Matabeleland South and particularly are succumbing to moisture stress and there is likely to be complete crop failure • Crops have been severely affected by waterlogging in most parts of Mashonaland, and particularly Hurungwe, and this is likely to lead to generalized crop failure. • Prices of grain and grain products continue to sky rocket, and mealie meal is not readily available in the formal market.

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• Lack of dipping chemicals in the country has hit hard on the livestock sector, and this has seen an increase in livestock deaths . High tick infestation was observed in some wards in and in district due to irregular dipping.

Food Aid [from WFP, IOM ] • In February and March, WFP plans to distribute food to approximately 2.8 million people under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Targeted Feeding Programmes (TFP) • The targeted activities benefit school children, HIV and AIDS affected and Vulnerable and Mobile groups in rural and urban areas. • Both programmes cater to an estimated 320,000 beneficiaries with an approximately 3,000 Mt a month. • Through the parallel pipeline of the Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency (C SAFE), partners plan to reach an estimated 1.4 million beneficiaries during the FebruaryMarch period • March will be the final month of distributions under the Vulnerable Group Feeding programme, which marks the end of the agricultural lean season in Zimbabwe. • During the months of January and February, the availability of maize was very scarce in both urban and rural areas and hence prices for the commodity were driven up. • IOM reported that a total number of 7,641 households received food packs countrywide. A large turn out of people came to the distribution sites with the hope of being assisted or at least registered. This was noted in Hurungwe, Makonde, Chiredzi and in some caseloads of . Many people said that they had run out of food stocks and they desperately needed food handouts. • There were serious problems linked to grinding mills. According to IOM, most of the mills are located far from the MVP communities save for those located in growth points or urban areas . Persistent power cuts were a major problem as beneficiaries waited for hours to have their grain processed. In some instances grinding fees were beyond the reach of most MVPs.

Food Security [from IOM] • IOM and its implementing partners successfully distributed Drought Tolerant (OPV maize and sorghum) seeds as well as basal and top dressing fertiliser to 8,481 MVP households in 17 districts and 35 wards of the country. • The 8,471 beneficiary households were organized into groups and contact farmers were selected and trained on their roles and responsibilities in the inputs distribution activity as well as on general agronomy of the drought tolerant crops for food security. • FAO in collaboration with IOM, NGOs, Agritex, CSO and the Met Department conducted a post planting survey in February 2008. The survey was undertaken in 43 districts and approximately 5000 households were interviewed. The results of the survey will be available during the first week of April 2008.

Health [from IOM UNICEF ] • UNICEF reported that though the country has sufficient vaccines, injection supplies and LP gas to meet the requirement for the year, the vaccines are in danger of being destroyed because of breakage of the cold chain and non availability of the cold chain equipment itself at some health facilities. UNICEF is therefore seeking to procure generators for provincial vaccine stores where the bulk of vaccines are stored so that these can be used during power cuts which has become so frequent endangering the potency of the vaccines. • The very limited quantities of cold chain equipment will be given to health facilities where there is none or broken beyond repair equipment to ensure children continue to be immunised. • Mobile and Vulnerable Populations (MVPs) are at a heightened risk of exposure to communicable diseases due to hazards related to their living situations such as location of temporary housing, overcrowding, poor ventilation, lack of water (or contaminated water), inadequate sanitation, disruption of public utilities (e.g. electricity, water and sewage treatment), increased exposure to disease vectors (e.g. mosquitoes, fleas, lice) etc • Repeated flood assessments in the flood affected areas have shown that health needs are of major concern; severe diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks have been reported in Mashonaland Central and East, Matabeleland and Manicaland provinces. The International Organization for Migration, in coordination with different actors responded quickly to these recent outbreaks. Medical interventions through the provision of a mobile clinic are ongoing in Manicaland and caseloads .

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Cholera Update (Ministry of Health, WHO, UNHCR) • According to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, at least 14 cases of cholera have been reported in Harare in the past two weeks. • Nine cases, which have since been put under control, were reported at the Waterfalls Refugee Transit Camp (WTC) while another five were reported in Epworth. • A Cholera clinic has been set up and operational at the Transit Camp with medical staff from MOH running the clinic • Drugs for the clinic were supplied by IOM. WHO and IOM are working to secure outstanding medical supplies (Bed linen, BP machine, Thermometer and protective clothing). • UNICEF is supplying water to the camp on daily basis. • As part of measures to contain the outbreak at the camp, the Waterfalls Transit Camp has been closed to new arrivals. All new arrivals are being directed to Tongogara Camp. • 162 cases of cholera and 20 deaths have been reported in Mudzi as at 25 February. The probable source of this outbreak, which is yet to be confirmed, is believed to be a contaminated borehole. Organizations responding to the cholera outbreak, which is under control, include the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, MSF, IOM, Oxfam GB and Red Cross. Case management includes o Setting up of treatment camps o Active case finding and contacts tracing o Disinfection of water, fomites and toilets o Supervision of funerals o Visit to all health centres for alertness and supply of IV fluids o Active CPU meetings (Mudzi) o Cross border contact with Mozambican health officials

Mudzi Cholera Analysis

Cases Deaths Totals Age M F Totals (all) M F (all)

Under 5 yrs 6 11 17 1 1 2

5+ yrs 63 82 145 6 12 18

Total 69 93 162 7 13 20 Case Fatality Rate (CFR) % 12.3

Water and Sanitation [from UNICEF, OXFAM GB, CC ] • In City, although the availability of water in the supply reservoirs has substantially improved (71.4%) there is serious shortage of water due to inadequate water treatment chemicals especially aluminium sulphate. The situation has resulted in constant water cuts and rationing, the most affected segment of the population being the high density residential areas, where the most vulnerable reside. Consequently, the problem of acute watery diarrhoea has persisted into 2008. • The supply of water treatment chemicals will be for a period of six months and it is hoped that by that time the municipality would have developed a financing mechanisms for the water treatment chemicals.

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• Between January and mid February 2008, the country has reported 124 cases of cholera and 13 deaths (CFR10.5%), in Epworth periurban settlement of Harare City, Mudzi, Mt Darwin, Centenary and Districts. In addition, there were diarrhoea outbreaks in the cities of Bulawayo, Harare, Kadoma and , and in Gokwe North and South rural districts between May 2007 and February 2008 with a total of more than 10,000 cases and 67 deaths reported. ( Source: Kadoma Municipality Reports and MoHCW Weekly Epidemiological Reports ). • The major factors associated with the outbreaks are poor water supply, sanitation and hygiene. This situation is deteriorating and there is need for urgent intervention if further deaths are to be avoided.

Nutrition [from UNICEF] • UNICEF in collaboration with MOHCW, MSFH, MSFL and MSFSpain continued to provide support to treatment of malnourished children and is working toward improving the geographical coverage within the districts already serviced. • In the month of February, different partners were concerted on scaling up the support for the implementation of Community Based Nutrition Care Programme in most vulnerable districts. Three more organizations are planning to complement this effort and cover five more districts in Matebeleland south and North, Manicaland and Mashonaland West if funds are secured. • Most of the partners are mobilizing resources which will enable implementation of the planned activities. • Training of health professionals and community workers will continue throughout the first and second quarter of the year.

Shelter and Non-food Items [from IOM ] • IOM is currently receiving materials for construction of transitional houses in Vic Falls, Mount Darwin and Harare. • Shelter construction for 33 displaced victims is ongoing in Bulawayo. • A total of 633 households from Mvuma received non food item packs under the IOM flood response while 12,000 households received a 3 month supply of soap and cotton wool country wide in MVP sites as part of ongoing efforts to promote hygiene at household level. • A total of 8 933 packs of cotton wool were distributed to females during food and NFI distribution in in Mashonaland West

HIV & AIDS [from IOM]] • HIV/AIDS, genderbased violence and trafficking issues were mainstreamed during the distribution of food and non food items in all the IOM caseloads, as well as distribution of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials in the same areas. • A total of 2,938 IEC materials, 17,500 condoms (13 200 male and 2 300 females) were distributed. • Under the HIV/AIDS Expanded Support Programme (ESP)) IOM participated in two districts (Mutasa in Manicaland and Makonde in Mashonaland West) on the implementation of the Behaviour Change programme for the caseloads in those districts. • IOM will support the hospital with transport 3 days a month to enable them to provide health care and ART replenishment and monitoring to the Makonde MVP caseloads. • A total of 1 333 chronically ill beneficiaries received supplementary food packs. • Training on Emergency Preparedness and Response to Issues of HIV/AIDS, GBV and humanitarian issues in flooded areas of Zimbabwe was coordinated by UNAIDS in (1920/02/08) as well as a workshop on Technical Flood Emergency Assessment hosted by UNDP and OCHA (26/02/08). IOM participated and facilitated at both meetings.

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IV. COORDINATION AND ADVOCACY

Calendar of coordination working group meetings for March 2008 Meeting Contact/Chair Date/Time Nutrition Technical Consultative UNICEF – 7th Mar., 9am – 11am at UNICEF Group [email protected] InterAgency Coordination MoHCW/WHO – 3rd Mar, 14301600 at Kaguvi Committee on Health [email protected] Education Working Group UNICEF – [email protected] 12th Mar, 9am – 11am at 18 th Floor Ambassador House Working Group Chairs Meeting OCHA – [email protected] 13th Mar, 1430 – 1600 at OCHA IASC Country Team OCHA – [email protected] 13t h Mar, 1100 – 1230 at 9 th Floor Takura Protection Working Group OCHA – [email protected] 65h Mar, 1100 – 1300 at OCHA Donors Meeting with HC OCHA – [email protected] 27th Mar, 1500 – 1600 at 9 th Floor Takura Agricultural Coordination FAO – [email protected] 27th Mar, 0900 – 1200 at Celebration Working Group 2536558 or 011 761901 Centre Water and Sanitation Working UNICEF – [email protected] 28th Mar, 0900 – 1100 at TBA Group Matebeleland NGO Forum OXFAM – [email protected] Postponed due to elections

Note: These dates are provisional and are subject to confirmation with or by the contact persons.

V. ASSESSMENTS, FIELD MISSIONS AND ADVOCACY Inter-Agency Flood Assessment Mission • A coordination meeting for flood standby assessment teams was held at Holiday Inn in Harare on 26 th February • The aim of the meeting was to share experiences on flood damage assessments conducted so far in Zimbabwe, compare notes, adopt and adapt best practices on flood emergency assessments and reporting • The Dept of Civil Protection, the primary coordinator of all disaster responses, outlined the policy framework for disaster response in Zimbabwe. It presented a flood operational manual which outlined various disaster response committees and their roles • The Dept of Met indicated that there were no flooding threats in the foreseeable future though there was need to be prepared since we are still in the La Nina phase.

NOTES This report is an analysis tool for the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. It is published monthly and sometimes on ad-hoc basis. Contributions in the form of analysis pieces on the humanitarian situation and activities are welcome. Send your feedback and contributions to - [email protected] For further humanitarian information, please visit http://ochaonline.un.org/zimbabwe .

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Disclaimer: - The content of this document is for information purposes only and not an official record of the United Nations’ views.