Zimbabwe: Floods - Jan 2013

Heavy rains starting on 7 Jan 2013 affected an estimated 8,490 people across Zimbabwe, out of which 4,615 required humanitarian assistance in the form of emergency shelter and/or non-food items. The heavy downpours also caused major damage to agricultural lands, destroying maize crops (the main staple), as well as disrupting public services such as road transportation and education. The main provinces requiring humanitarian response were in Matebeleland South, Matebeleland North, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Midlands. (OCHA, 25 Jan 2013)

By February, the meteorological department reported that the country had received the peak of rainfall for the season and that while more rains were expected, they should not cause major flooding incidents (OCHA, 8 Feb 2013).