SITUATION REPORT AS AT 27 February 2017 1100hours A. Weather Outlook: 27to 28 February 2017 Places forecast to receive rainfall are parts of , Matebeleland South, Midlands, and western parts of the country.

A. Meteorological Services Department

It is forecast to be wet, humid and warm across the country with some localised heavier downpours mainly concentrated along the watershed and over high ground.

Please note: Flooding remains a potential threat in all areas.

B. Hydrological Update as at 27 February 2017 There is still risk of flooding in the country as most parts are still receiving heavy rainfall activities. Furthermore the situation is compounded by the fact that the ground is saturated and most of the rainfall being received is being converted to runoff. The highlights of the River flows are shown in the table below.

River Site Province 27/02/2017 20/02/2017 Expected Comments level at this time Zambezi Victoria Mat North 1360m3/s 1240m3/s 1355 m3/s Increase in flows due to Falls incoming runoff from the upstream countries Odzi Odzi Gorge Manicaland 74m3/s 37.3m3/s 69.1m3/s Increase in flows. Moderate flood risk in Middle Sabi. Runde Confluence Masvingo 593m3/s 450m3/s 168.4m3/s Increase in flows with Tokwe causing flooding problems in Chivi. There is high risk of flooding in Runde up to the confluence with Save. Mazowe Mazowe Mash 223m3/s 275m3/s 167.4m3/s Flows are now Bridge Central decreasing but above average. Gwayi Dahlia Mat North 283m3/s 216.2m3/s 23.4m3/s Flows are increasing and there is high risk of

flooding in the

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Tsholotsho and Area. Mzingwane Limpopo Mat South 5.27m 5.4m 1.5m Slight decrease in flows but there is high risk of flooding in and Chikwalakwala at the moment due to inflows from the upstream areas.

According to the Flash Flood Guidance system the forecasted areal precipitation is concentrated mainly in the Eastern Highlands and also parts of Masvingo, however flooding is forecasted to be mainly in the and Chimanimani Districts.

Key messages

There are still chances of flooding in most of the low lying areas of the country which include, Muzarabani and Tsholotsho, Middle Sabi, Malipati, and Chikwalakwala. As a result the communities living nearby all major rivers such as Mzingwane, Runde, Save, Shashe, Limpopo, Bubi and Mwenezi are urged to remain on high alert and monitor the situation closely and be prepared to move to high ground if need arises. The public should desist from crossing flooded rivers and should use bridges to cross such rivers.

The public is also urged to desist from carrying out activities such as fishing or gold panning downstream of all dams as the dam levels are still rising significantly resulting in unexpected rise of

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Reports on incidents and related interventions Matebeleland North – This is arguably the most severely affected district in the country to date and a considerable number of households have lost their homes to flooding or excessive moisture. Communities in the Sipepa area were displaced by flooding and subsequently evacuated to Siphepha Primary School and Hospital by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The total number of the displaced is 850 to date inclusive of school children and infants. The local school also flooded and children cannot access the school. Flooding in the area reached waist level. A plan of action for response is in place. Its key components are: - Needs/ damage assessment inclusive of mapping of the flooded area to be conducted by the sub national civil protection structures with the support of the national civil protection committee. - Provision of critical basic needs which includes food, water and sanitation, shelter and protection, health services and continuity of schooling. - Logistical support to the sub national structures with the attendant operational resources

- Livelihoods study to consider scope of relocation and scope of living with the flood risk inclusive of the attendant risk reduction priorities

Efforts are ongoing to mobilise the necessary resources for response with some measure of success: - Air Rescue( helicopters and personnel) by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces - Utensils, clothing and shoes, school bags, jerry cans, blankets, mosquito nets and toiletries have been provided by the Department of Civil Protection, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society and IOM - Maize and rice by the Department of Social Welfare - A beast for relish from the local MP - Plastic buckets, bars of soap, water treatment tablets from Germany Agro Action and UNICEF - Tents, plastic sheeting and sunplats from the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society - Three vehicles for use and fuel from Plan International, 1 vehicle and fuel from Amalima - Class room tents from UNICEF

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- Medicines, infant formula and micronutrients from Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and WHO - Logistical support ( staff, vehicles, fuel and subsistence) for needs/ damage assessment by UNICEF, Plan International, Amalima, USAID, IOM, WFP and Department of Civil Protection – due to flooding, lions, zebras and buffaloes are being spotted in some areas thereby causing fear in affected communities. Some of the animals destroy crops and pose a risk to domestic animals. However, the National Parks Office has been notified to attend to the problem. There is an outbreak of crop pests namely webworm, army worm and stalk borer. Binga District – on 22 February, a classroom block at Nakapande Secondary School collapsed earlier in the day injuring 7 learners. A class room tent sourced from UNICEF is being delivered to the School. Matebeleland South District- A bridge connecting Shale and Zhilo Rivers in ward 8 and Sibomvu in ward 4 collapsed during the heavy rains and it is impossible to cross to the either side of the river. A villager at Zimbili extension in ward 19 lost his entire homestead as a result of heavy rains. – the entry and exit points for four bridges (Mwanezi, Chingezi, Zverenje and Tandavari) on Mwanezi River were extensively damaged. A number of power lines were downed and they need urgent repair. There are disruptions of water supply in Mwanezi Clinic and Jeka Rural Hospital as well as Chizungu and Chegato High schools. 10 households were displaced and they sought shelter at Chebvute Secondary School. Furthermore, 80 other households were affected following damage to their homesteads. An unconfirmed number of chickens, goats, donkeys and cattle were washed away. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society is making arrangements to deliver tents to the affected households. Efforts are underway by DDF and State Roads to repair the damaged bridges. The district is making arrangements to engage responsible authorities to carry out repairs to water supplies in affected institutions and to repair downed power lines. Mashonaland West The Department of Civil Protection made deliveries of an assortment of building materials to thunderstorm damaged schools in Mt Darwin. The Department has also dispatched a

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consignment of shoes, toiletries, clothing, plastic buckets to windstorm victims at Gatshegatshe in and lightning victims in Mt Darwin.

Masvingo -fifteen people were reported to have been marooned at Mushandike and Tugwi confluence. A team from the Airforce of Zimbabwe and ZRP Sub Aqua Unit has been dispatched assist the communities. - Runde River burst its banks and households were displaced settled along the river, the Provincial Sub Aqua assisted the communities. - Runde River was reported to have its banks collapsing and encroaching towards Lundi High School. Students have been moved to a much higher area within the school premise. Seven school administration staff were displaced by the flooding and subsequently evacuated. - On 26th February two households had their homes and livestock wiped off by a landslide from a nearby hill in Musamiri village near Silveira House. Three people were injured and one school going girl is missing to date. Summary from October 2016 to 22 February 2017

No. of schools affected ----- 71 No. of affected health institutions: 5 Total no. of homeless families ------635 Total no. of homesteads affected/damaged...... 1 936 No, of deaths due to lightning strikes...... 12 deaths, 106 injured No. of drowning...... 115 No. of breached walls of small dams ...... 71 Number of marooned ...... 593 and 40 rescued, 3 drowned

No. of affected livestock ...... 64 + cattle, 137 + goats, 41 + donkeys, 2 073+ chickens

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