Inter-Agency Flooding Rapid Assessment Report 18-19 March - 2019 Supported by the Department of Civil Protection, UN-Agencies and NGOs Page | 1 Table of Contents Page | 2 1.0 General Assessment Information Main Objective of the assessment The main purpose of the Inter-Agency rapid assessment was to ascertain the scale and scope of the flooding situation focusing on key areas/sectors namely shelter and non-food items, Health and nutrition, Food security, WASH, Environment, Education, Protection and Early Recovery, its impact on individuals, communities, institutions and refugees. Specific Objectives of the Assessment • To determine the number of the affected people and establish their demographic characteristics • To determine the immediate, intermediate and long term needs of the affected communities Methodology • Field visits in accessible affected areas in Chimanimani and Chipinge; • Key informant interviews with the Provincial and District Administrators (Face to face and tele- interviews); • Secondary analysis of sectoral reports; • Key informant interviews with affected people. 1.1 Background of the flooding Zimbabwe experienced torrential rainfall caused by Cyclone Idai from the 15th of March 2019 to the 17th of March 2019.Tropical Cyclone Idai which was downgraded to a tropical depression on the 16th of March 2019 caused high winds and heavy precipitation in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Buhera, Nyanga, Makoni, Mutare Rural, Mutasa and parts of Mutare Urban Chimanimani and Chipinge districts among other districts, causing riverine and flash flooding and subsequent deaths, destruction of livelihoods and properties. To date, Chimanimani district is the most affected. An estimated 50,000 households/250,000 people were affected by flooding and landslides in Chimanimani and Chipinge, when local rivers and their tributaries burst their banks and caused the inundation of homes and schools causing considerable damage to property and livelihoods and in some cases deaths. 1.2 The affected population as at the 22nd of March 2019 Households People Females Males Children Affected People * +/-50,000** 250,000 130,000 120,000 120,000 Displaced People 4,484 In need of shelter 16,000 Commented [BZ1]: IOM to put a comment or foot note Deaths 154 here *The affected population figures number include mostly numbers from the most affected districts namely Chimanimani and Chipinge Page | 3 **From the key informant interviews, it was noted that 29,000 people were affected in Chimanimani and 21,000 households were affected in Chipinge 1.3 Coordination The Department of Civil Protection is leading the National and sub-national coordination of the response through the National, Provincial and District Civil Protection committees. The Emergency Sub-services sub- committee of the National Civil Protection Committee supported the rapid assessment exercise with support from Development Partners, NGOs and the Provincial /District Civil protection committees. Manicaland Provincial District Civil Protection committee Chaired by the Provincial District Administrator is leading the coordination of the flood response. A total of 13 Technical sub committees have been established at a Provincial Level namely (Search and Rescue, Food, Transport and Logistics, Education, Protection, Health, Shelter, Water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Weather, Roads, Administration and Security. 2.0 Sectoral Information 2.1 Transport and Logistics: Road Access • Access constrains remain the following: o Mutare- Chimanimani ▪ Open to 40 MT and 20 MT Truck up to Wengezi ▪ 10 km after Wengezi bridge washed out and not further access o Mutare- Chinpinge- ▪ Open to 40 MT and 20 MT Trucks up to Tanganda ▪ Some access constrains with muddy roads thereafter o Chipinge- Chimanimani- ▪ The road up to Silverstream is open to 30 MT & 20 MT Trucks ▪ From Silverstream to Skyline only 10 MT capacity ▪ Skyline to Chimanimani – no access Storage • Goverment has made arrangements for storage facility at Silverstream that partners can use for emergency response purposes. The storage space could accommodate up to approximately 500 MT, but it is unclear how much space would be allocated to humanitarian actors. • At the moment, no warehousing facilities are available at Skyline from where government helicopters are currently operating Road and Bridge rehabilitation • As the Logistics Sector Lead, WFP is in contact with a local engineering firm which is on the ground to support the infrastructure rehabilitation efforts. With support from local authorities, road rehabilitation started on the 19th of March on the Tanganda – Chipinge sections of the road. • Fuel and power supply shortages remain a primary concern with regards to the repair and rehabilitation of roads and bridges. WFP is coordinating with the DCP to determine the most suitable way forward. • The military is supporting search and rescue operations as well as evacuation of at-risk communities. However, access challenges have been reported as well as timely coordination and implementation Page | 4 in some cases due to mainly the adverse weather conditions. However, the availability of more air assets would ease the pressure. • Interim storage facilities have been set up at Silverstream and at skyline. However, at skyline there is need to set up a mobile storage Unit/Wilkhall/Rubhall to store relief commodities. Figure 2 below shows the areas where access has been cut off: Bridges swept away. Not accessible beyond this point Road swept away completely. Not passable Skyline Junction (only accessible via B/bridge Rd Road heavily damaged at Rusitu. Only small vehicle can pass up to 10mt capacity. Trucks not able to pass this point Road heavily damaged. Detour created by army to allow small vehicles to pass Priorities, Gaps/Challenges • There is need for adequate supply of tents, transport and storage facilities at all centres identified. • There is need for closer coordination at national level thru the Logistics Sector Working group coordination meetings. Page | 5 • WFP looking at supporting the air services and roads and bridges rehabilitation for 2 weeks. WFP looking at receiving and deployment of a helicopter by latest Saturday. Working on the requirements and details of the air service package from WFP HQ aviation unit to determine what will be required of us to speed up the deployment. • WFP and its partners/donors working on having engineering support. An engineering firm has been proposed by one of the donors and they have shared their needs and requirements for the engineering support that are currently being reviewed. Meanwhile the engineering firm is doing assessments of the roads and bridges plus associated infrastructure that they think they can support. WFP Zim has reached out to the WFP Regional office for additional engineering support as well. • There is urgent need to quickly upscale the movement of food and WASH materials to the marooned villagers as well as other affected villagers. The team established from the ZNA logistical coordinators on the ground that more air assets was needed to enable timely movement of the injured, the sick and the relief cargo. • Logistically, only small trucks of up to 7-10mt can access Chimanimani but only up to Skyline. Bigger trucks can only go as far as Silverstream where gvt has set up a storage facility. • The roadworks seal/repair of the part from Tanganda halt where vehicles were getting stuck are ongoing and will need monitoring. Currently a detour was created that is creating smooth flow of traffic but this needs further reviews. • Government through the PAs office advised that there are 10 helis assigned to the Cyclone IDAI operation to help reach the inaccessible areas for a limited period, still to get exact timelines. The logistics working group will need closer coordination with government on the use of the air assets to ensure equitable use of the available assets/resources. • In collaboration with Gvt and partners, preposition humanitarian cargo to Silverstone and Skyline. However, at Skyline there is need to put up a temporary warehouse/s to store relief cargo. At Silverstream, government negotiated for warehouse space but we have not been able to establish size of the warehouse and what quantities it can store. • Logistics working sector group in collaboration with CPD and the Provincial subcommittee on Logistics to encourage partners and donors to move resources by road up to Silverstream and where possible to skyline once details of the storage facilities are obtained. • Three transporters have shown willingness to support by providing trucks to ferry relief cargo to the affected areas, however they require details of how they can offer support. The key risks for potential abuse: • Security of the commodities and the helicopters. • Availability of fuel for the air assets • Further deterioration of some sections of the road leading to Skyline • Crime and theft of humanitarian cargos. • Insurance and loss of cargo in transport • Weather 2.2 Shelter and Non Food Items Current Situation Page | 6 • A total of 50 000 persons have been affected. The figure includes over 2,000 people who have been displaced and are sheltered in safe spaces. • A temporary holding camp has been established at skyline, 2 additional temporary holding camps will be established at Wengezi, and Ngangu • Plans are underway to establish Logistics hubs at Silverstream (Christina primary) and Wengezi to enable easy access and airlifting of relief materials to Cooper and Ngangu camps . • The displaced people