IOM Newsletter

No 6 - April 2008 No 6 - 142 King George Road, Avondale, Harare, - Tel: 04 335 514/335 044 - E-mail: [email protected] - www.iom.int Devastating Rains Met With Humanitarian Assistance In Zimbabwe, heavy rains that started in mid-December caused MUZARABANI DISTRICT serious damage to the eastern and north eastern border com- In Muzarabani District, the rains started on 12 December. munities to Mozambique. Households who were dependent on When villages awoke on the 13th they found the rivers (Hoya monthly food aid from the World Food Programme have seen and Musengezi) full and water gushing towards the villages their only food stocks destroyed and depended on households from all directions. By 17 December, after almost incessant within the communities who managed somehow to salvage their rains, houses began collapsing and some of the villagers own stocks. In addition, crops were washed away and this will quickly realized that they needed to seek shelter on higher have long-term repercussions in areas where they may have grounds, whilst others were confused as to which direction to once had the chance for a promising harvest. move due to the large volume of water in the area. Most vil- lagers sought refuge at a primary school nearby; others were There was also an increase in reported diseases ranging from forced to remain near their destroyed homesteads as they malaria, diarrhea and skin diseases due to bad sanitation and could not cross the rivers to get to the primary school. stagnant water. This was compounded by people’s inability to seek medical assistance as bridges were washed away, clinics All identifications, verifications and distributions were done were too far and there was simply no access to many of the with the ward level civil protection unit committee to ensure communities affected by the flooding. As people lost all their that only eligible people were assisted. Areas such as Kairezi, belongings and had no where else to go, they were forced to Hoya and Chadereka are inaccessible by road due to flooding create makeshift homes whilst waiting for the floods to subside. and damaged bridges. To date IOM has assisted 500 house- holds in Muzarabani. During the floods, UN OCHA facilitated a coordinated re- sponse between UN agencies, IOM, NGOs and govern- ment. IOM assisted in excess of 4,000 households and distributed 1,535 tarpaulins, 2,934 blankets, 5,420 mos- Left: Christmas quito nets, 12,350 aquatabs and 367 non food item Day for a family in packs, as well as drugs and condoms. IOM continues to Muzarabani. provide assistance of non-food items and is monitoring Photo: the situation carefully by participating in assessments, fo- IOM Zimbabwe cusing also on areas where flooding is possible. Should L Goredema these areas also lead to a level where human life is threatened, or otherwise require an emergency response, IOM will be ready to assist. DISTRICT In , the floods started on the afternoon of 27th of December 2007 In this Issue: according to the community. The water from Save River flowed towards their homes. At around 23:00 hours people started moving out of their homes but it New Safe Zone Opens in was too late. The most affected areas identified by Responding to Migration IOM were Masimbe, Maronga, and Health Needs Chibuwe, Tongogara Refuge Camp, Farm 25, and Gumira. The last reported IOM Zimbabwe floods of the same magnitude in this area occurred in 1947. 2008 Strategy Building Capacity to Fight In addition to the destruction of property and crops, boreholes other water Human Trafficking sources were destroyed or submerged Migration and Development and are likely contaminated. To date IOM assisted 3,517 households in in Zimbabwe Chipinge. Safe Zone Community Outreach Left: Children in Chipinge mark the level of flood water. Celebrating Universal Photo: IOM Zimbabwe W Sithole Children’s Day

Page 1 IOM Harare Newsletter - April 2008 A New Safe Zone Youth Centre Opens in Bulawayo The Mzilikazi community celebrated a IOM and the Bulawayo City Council who on gender based violence, human traf- special occasion which marked the offi- is providing the Mzilikazi Youth Centre for ficking, HIV and AIDS and above all Safe cial opening of the Bulawayo Safe Zone Safe Zone activities. The Bulawayo Safe Migration. youth centre on the 15th of February Zone is the second such centre to open 2008. Mr. Marcelo Pisani, Chief of Mis- in Zimbabwe, the first opened in Chiredzi The Safe Zones are in celebration of the sion for IOM in Zimbabwe, officially February 2007. Through information dis- youth who are our future and it is critical opened the doors, together with the semination, building self esteem and the that we render them the necessary sup- Head of Recreational Services for the platform to do income generating activi- port and keep them informed and safe. Bulawayo City Council, Mr. Mbambo. ties, youths are encouraged to make a plan before traveling. The launch of the centre was attended The Safe Zone concept was developed by the ward councilor, members of the to reach young Zimbabweans between The Bulawayo Safe Zone is a hub of ac- civic society and community as well as the ages of 15 and 24 and inform them tivities for both in school and out of various stakeholders. on the risks and realities of irregular mi- school youths. Structured lessons ensure gration and encourage safe health prac- that the target group is well guided and The Safe Zones receive support from the tices for a safer future, as part of the occupied. The coordinator at the center UK’s Department for International Devel- Safe Journey Information Campaign. helps to make a difference in the lives of opment DFID, and is run in partnership The opening of this centre was made young people by raising their risk percep- with the Government of Zimbabwe. possible through a partnership between tion through formal and informal lessons

Left: Safe Zone Peer Educators welcome the community with song. Above: The crowd at the centre opening. Photos: IOM Zimbabwe Migration and Health Response in Zimbabwe Mobile Health Clinic Services Mashonaland West signs MOU with with raised water tables, which resulted The Migration Health Unit within IOM IOM for support to Dzivaresekwa in people contracting cholera. IOM rose continues to provide mobile clinic serv- Extension and Whitecliffe to action providing the needed services ices to the disadvantaged communities A Memorandum of Understanding be- to the affected areas ranging from drugs within the Harare peri urban areas of tween IOM and Mashonaland West and medical supplies and on the shelter Manyame, Blackfordby, Epworth Bela- Provincial Medical Director was signed. side, providing the needed shelter to paise, Hatcliffe Extension and a static This opened new opportunities for IOM to pitch up a camp in Waterfalls Holding clinic that serves Hopely farm and serve the deserving communities in the Camp. Hopely Tariro. areas of Dzivaresekwa Extension and Whitecliffe. IOM partners have been In February 2008 these services were very active to offer support with commu- extended to Caledonia in Goromonzi nity mobilization in these areas. District. The weekly visits are to a densely populated area with limited ac- Emergency Health Response cess to medical treatment. The residents The first quarter of 2008 has been a welcomed the new treatments on the 1st busy time for the Migration Health Unit of February with a launch attended by at IOM as numerous and sometimes the District Nursing Officer, District Envi- concurrent outbreaks of cholera were ronmental Health Officer and District reported in different areas – Muzara- Health Education Officer for Goromonzi. bani, Mt Darwin, , Mudzi and Since the mobile services started in Waterfalls Holding Camp, following the Caledonia the number of people seen devastating floods in December and per day is in excess of one hundred. January. The floods caused wide- Above: IOM nurse provides treatment at the spread contamination of water bodies mobile clinic. Photo: IOM Zimbabwe, E Foster

Page 2 IOM Zimbabwe Publishes Strategic Plan for 2008 In December 2007, IOM carried out its tion. In accordance to these areas, the fourth annual Strategic Planning retreat mission came up with strategic objec- for the Mission in Zimbabwe. As the mis- tives and project prioritisation in each of sion continues to grow, a three-year plan the global focus areas. was designed for 2008-2010 which will facilitate the development of long-term This planning document should give IOM objectives and planning. Twenty-five partners the opportunity to see the wide staff members were selected to partici- range of programmes which IOM is in- pate in the retreat, which was preceded volved with and gain a better under- by meetings with all staff with the strate- standing of IOM’s expertise and scope of gic planning consultant in order to ensure work both in Zimbabwe and internation- a participatory approach. ally.

The strategic plan focused on developing The retreat was also an opportunity for scenarios over the next three years and staff members to work together to de- prioritising mission objectives according velop this important document and be a to those scenarios. In addition, IOM Zim- part of strategic thinking of their mission. babwe used the IOM global strategy In March 2008, all staff members were which categorises migration by Migration presented with the document and shown and Development, Facilitating migration, the process by which it was developed in Regulating Migration and Forced Migra- order to ensure that the strategy was shared and understood by all staff. Building Capacity to Fight Human Trafficking Human trafficking is a global crime that In Zimbabwe, IOM has undertaken a se- Workshop components include exploits innocent people into what is ries of capacity building workshops for investigation, prosecution, and anti-traf- termed ‘modern day slavery’. As part of law enforcement and social service ficking legislation, as well as the needs of the effort to end this horrific crime, IOM providers who provide services to victims victims, and mainstreaming trafficking ac- has programmes worldwide. The South- of trafficking. Upcoming trainings will tivities into daily work and planning. ern African Counter Trafficking Pro- take place in and Plumtree in gramme (SACTAP) is a regional April and May 2008. For more information on the SACTAP approach to raise awareness and build programme please visit http://iom.org.za capacity of governments to fight human These trainings are tailored to the spe- trafficking. cific needs and roles of various partners in the fight against human trafficking. EU Funds IOM’s Programme for Migration and Development

IOM, in coordination with the Govern- Migration Profile, including research on IOM in Harare in the presence of repre- ment of Zimbabwe, is launching the pro- remittances; and support to a sequenced sentatives of the Zimbabwe Government, gramme Zimbabwe Migration and short-term return of health professionals including Hon. Sylvester Nguni, Minister Development Strategies to contribute to in the diaspora. of Economic Development. the management of migration and en- hance the development impact of migra- A signing ceremony was held 31 October The European Union through the Euro- tion in Zimbabwe. 2007 with the European Commission and “pean Commission wants to give special attention to the migration challenges that The European Union is providing Zimbabwe and its people are currently a total of 843,000 Euro to sup- facing and that have large impacts on the port IOM’s innovative pro- social and economic development of the gramme for Migration and country. This project is in line with the EU Development in Zimbabwe. The migration and external development pol- project has three components in- icy and the present EU policy towards cluding: support to the Govern- Zimbabwe said Ambassador Xavier ment of Zimbabwe to establish Marchal, Head” of the European Commis- an institutional, policy and legal sion Delegation to Zimbabwe. framework for the development and implementation of a national strategy for migration and devel- opment; the formulation and ap- Left: Ambassador Marchal and Mr. Marcelo Pisani signing the funding agreement. plication of a Zimbabwe Photo: IOM Zimbabwe E Foster

Page 3 IOM Harare Newsletter - April 2008 Safe Zone Community Outreach Safe Zone Family Fun Day were behind the information stands the programs that run at the Safe Zone. Parents in Chiredzi, Tshovani got a which addressed livelihoods, counter One parent on the occasion had this to chance to mix with their children and to- trafficking, gender based violence, say, “I will make sure my children come gether learn in a fun filled environment. HIV/AIDS and safe migration. The youth here. It’s as if they are in school and you This was made possible by the Family were involved in sporting activities the are assured they are getting lessons for Fun Day which was held late last year. likes of volleyball, chess and darts. Other life! This is what we need for our children This day was organized to give parents a parents and children participated in the to grow focused.” platform to explore the activities and les- safe migration quiz game with lots of sons that their children receive at the prizes for correct answers. This was The event was supported by ZNFPC, Safe Zone youth centre. Peer educators meant to give a clearer understanding of NAC and The Council. Hippo Valley Track and Field Teams Support Safe Migration

The boys and girls track and field teams from Hippo Valley High School competed in the 28/29 February provincial competi- tion with new team T-Shirts promoting Safe Migration as part of the IOM Safe Journey Information Campaign in Chiredzi. Right: Hippo Valley girls and boys track and field team. Photo: IOM Zimbabwe J Llanderal Celebrating Universal Children’s Day The violation of children’s rights is a dis- mary and Secondary school children that turbing global trend. Therefore, on the told a story about an orphan who was ill- A recent article on child abuse in Zim- 20th of November 2007, IOM and its im- treated by her aunt. babwe by UNICEF showed that there is plementing partners organized activities an increase in reports on rape and sexual in several mobile and vulnerable commu- On this day, children were not only given abuse of minors from 2,192 in 2003 to nities of Taisekwa, Hatcliff Extension and the chance to express their thoughts on 3,112 in 2000. It also pointed to a link Nyabira, to celebrate the Universal Chil- child abuse through singing, drama and with the deteriorating economy in which dren’s Day. poetry but also with discussions sup- adults are no longer able to provide the ported with newspaper articles, posters basics such as food and school fees, The partner organizations (ZCDT, ISL and pamphlets from UNICEF. During thereby exerting their anger and frustra- and St Gerard’s) prepared a range of ac- these discussions children expressed tions on children. IOM in collaboration tivities for and with the children and their their concerns on abuse in their commu- with UNICEF is currently trying to estab- communities; from songs, poetry reading nities, and it was evident that many chil- lish mechanism and other ways to ad- to drama performances, with titles like dren were not fully aware of their own dress these issues and raise more ‘Kushungurudzwa kwemadzimai mudz- rights. Although the day was celebrated awareness on child abuse in mobile and imba’ and kushungurudzwa kwevana.’ in a festive style, it highlighted the need vulnerable communities. Later a drama was performed by the Pri- to raise more awareness on child abuse. Kushungurudzwa Kwevana chiyamuro Translation We are fed up Chokwadi zvazotinyanyaira Aiwa Vabereki Nehama The abuse of children Let me give you a piece of Isu Vana zvazotiwandira Ragai ndikunyeurirei advice Zvazotigozhera isu vana Chabhenda chabhenda mbambaira Friends and relatives The police and law are now Tangova matembe oga oga haiswatuke This is too much there Kwokunanga hatichina Vanamakechemu vavako We can’t take it anymore If they catch you, Tongoti musango rupu rupu Vakadzamara vakubata wava svosve We are now just empty vessels You will be reduced to an ant Riri mubhoboro We have nowhere to go Stop abuse Vabereki nehama bata wabata Regai kutishungurudza Stop rape kutishungurudza Regai kutibata zvibharo Parents and relatives abuse us Because one of these days you Ukuwo vanababa navanamukoma Nekuti rimwe zuva hwenyu hypenyu Fathers and brothers abuse us Shall regret while we rejoice Kutibata zvibharo rava besanwa huchavava semhir ipiri Abusing us is now their hobby Pose pose tangova mielziyo isona Hwedu hwotapira setsvigir Children are now valueless

IOM Zimbabwe implements its programmes with the generous support of our donors.

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