CERF allocates almost $2 million to Zimbabwe as part of the second under-funded allocation in 2007.
7 September 2007: By mid-2007, every sector in Zimbabwe has reported either constant or growing humanitarian needs with the food security and health being of particular concern. Food insecurity has sharply increased following poor rainfall in parts of the country. Urban vulnerability to climatic shocks, such as drought, is growing, particularly as urban agriculture is becoming g an increasingly important coping mechanism for households faced with rising inflation and stagnant wages.
Since 2000, periodic droughts, deteriorating macro-economic conditions, disruption of commercial farming and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have led to a drastic reduction of outputs and productivity. With the CERF grant, FAO, in partnership with IOM, will assist a total of approximately 8,550 of the most vulnerable households. By providing them with small quantities of fertiliser (25-50 kg per household), training on micro-dosing and management and extension support, it is possible to boost cereal production and improve the livelihoods of these vulnerable people.
Gender based violence is one of the major driving factors for the HIV epidemic in the Southern Africa region, with Zimbabwe being one of the most affected countries. Gender base violence is especially problematic in the context of displacement; where women and children are vulnerable to exploitation, violence and abuse simply by virtue of their gender, and age.
IOM will be working with the implementing partners Musasa Project and Counseling Service Unit, along with UNFPA as a technical partner in the area of sexual reproductive health and GBV. Together, the agencies will conduct awareness workshops, train humanitarian NGO workers and law enforcement on human trafficking issues. Activities also include training NGO and government doctors and nurses in clinics close to vulnerable communities on sexual reproductive health and establishing of early warning systems at the community level while linking them to law enforcement and health systems.
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| Food supplies seen as a political weapon [Photo: IRIN] |
The WFP project is designed to improve the Emergency Telecommunications system by upgrading the existing network in 4 locations, installing new security telecommunications facilities and establishing independent communication mechanisms and operating procedures to meet UN security phase requirements in all operational areas. WFP will deploy telecommunications expert to help liaise between UN agencies, government and NGOs, and an electrician expert and international radio trainer to carry out necessary equipment upgrades and trainings.
UNICEF will respond to an urgent need of IV fluids especially in view of outbreaks of severe diarrhoea in four locations since May 2007 that resulted in nearly 10,000 cases and over 60 fatalities. Project activities include the procurement of 50 % of national minimum stocks of IV fluids and the distribution of IV fluids to National Pharmaceutical structures. In addition UNICEF will run a project to install, maintain and operate an Inter-Agency Data Communications Project for up to three emergency hubs in Zimbabwe which will be implemented in two phases by UNICEF, supported by its standby partners and in coordination with the Regional Office/HQ.
[Last update: 18 January 2008]
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CERF ensures the continuation of humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe
![Family living on the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe [Photo: IRIN]](/Portals/11/Images_country/ZIM_IRIN_streets_crop.jpg "Family living on the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe [Photo: IRIN]") |
| Family living on the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe [Photo: IRIN] |
The 2007 Consolidated Appeal for Zimbabwe aims to save lives, mitigate the impact of the humanitarian situation on vulnerable populations, enhance positive coping mechanisms and provide transitional support for the most vulnerable populations at the household and community level. Although the sectors of water and sanitation as well as shelter were identified as two of the key sectors in the 2007 CAP, these sectors remain under-funded. Recent improvements in access to populations affected by the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order confirm that great needs remain in the shelter sector. Needs assessments show that more than 15,000 households affected by OM/ORO are still in immediate need of shelter. The water and sanitation conditions in areas of settlements are also very poor. Regular cholera outbreaks, caused by poor water and sanitation conditions, are being reported among vulnerable populations, in both urban and rural areas.
CERF funds target water and sanitation activities
Thousands of populations in urban and peri-urban areas were rendered highly vulnerable to an acute lack of access to safe water supply and basic sanitation services because of the government’s Operation Murambatsvina/Operation Restore Order launched in May 2005. Despite efforts by humanitarian organisations there is still a substantial gap to fulfil the immediate needs of the affected populations with regard to access to safe water and basic sanitation facilities in Bulawayo and Epworth, Harare.
Rapid assessments by UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations and status reports from Bulawayo City Council have indicated the water supply situation in Bulawayo has reached critical levels with fear of an imminent catastrophe if urgent interventions are not instituted. The city’s supply dams are 28% full (Bulawayo City Council Reports, 2007), far short of the required 80%. Levels are expected to further decline which would pose a serious threat to the health and well being of approximately 1 million city residents.
During the second half of 2006, 91 cases of cholera and eleven resulting deaths (Case Fatality Rate – CFR - 12%) were reported in the City of Harare. Between January and February 2007, Harare was affected by another cholera outbreak with 26 cases reported. Of this, four cases and three resulting deaths from cholera (CFR – 75%) were reported during the first two weeks of February 2007 in Epworth, a peri-urban area of Harare where a large number of displaced from OM/ORO reside. Limited access to safe and adequate water supply and basic sanitation, compounded by poor hygiene practices, has been identified as the major risk factors in these outbreaks. The situation is expected to deteriorate in the absence of safe and adequate water supply, basic sanitation and hygiene with serious consequences in terms of morbidity/mortality.
With the CERF grant, UNICEF will, in collaboration with a number of partners (World Vision International, Practical Action, Epworth Local Board, Bulawayo and Harare Urban Councils and Government) provide emergency safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene education to targeted vulnerable populations in urban and peri-urban areas.
CERF funds target emergency shelter activities
Recent assessments and reports by humanitarian and human rights organizations, identified shelter needs for the country have risen from 5,000 to approximately 15,000 households, i.e. almost a threefold increase since the 2007 CAP was launched. Of particular concern are the approximately 10,000 households, among these, in Bulawayo, where virtually no external shelter assistance has been provided.
By meeting the unmet shelter needs of households affected by OM/ORO in Bulawayo, IOM will, in collaboration with a number of partners (UNHABITAT, Bulawayo City Council, Ministry of Local Government, Churches in Bulawayo, Dialogue on Shelter, Practical Action, Zimbabwe Community Development Trust), contribute toward addressing a basic shelter need, enhance security of tenure and thereby support the overall shelter sector objectives.
Zimbabwe received USD 1 million from the first allocation under the under-funded grants window in 2006 . The CERF grant allowed WHO, UNICEF, and IOM to continue urgent humanitarian assistance in the areas of health and nutrition, child protection and shelter activities.
One third of all funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund is earmarked for use in under-funded emergencies, in order to help redress imbalances in global aid distribution, as a result of which millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remain in need.
[Last update: 21 March 2007]
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