GLIDE n° EP-2008-000218-ZWE
Period covered by this Final Report: 23 December 2008 to 31 July 2009
Appeal target: CHF 10,170,233 (USD 9.2m or EUR 6.6m)
Final Appeal coverage: 68%;
Appeal history:
- This Emergency Appeal was launched on 23 December 2008, for CHF 10,170,233 (USD 9.2m or EUR 6.6m) for seven months to assist 1.5 million beneficiaries.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): a total of CHF 403,302 was allocated to support this operation; CHF 203,302 (USD 177,556 or EUR 139,248) on 11 November 2008, and CHF 200,000 (USD 181,818 or EUR 130,208) on 12 December 2008.
Summary: The cholera outbreak that began in November 2008 recorded a cumulative total of 98,592 cases and 4,288 deaths by 31 July 2009. Harare, together with the Manicaland, Midlands and Mashonaland West Provinces were prioritized after being identified as the worst affected. Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) through its Country Representation office in Harare, and with the technical support of the emergency response units (ERUs) reached over one million people throughout the country. The areas of focus included the provision of non-food relief, health and care service, safe water and sanitation facilities, and technical support to national health services. The operation was a joint effort of various stakeholders, which enhanced the response capacity of the National Society. The operation was scaled-down in April 2009 when the cholera cases started decreasing, whilst focus was shifted to medium- and long-term activities on recovery and rehabilitation.
Although the humanitarian needs in the country were significant, the Red Cross cholera response was seriously affected by low levels of donor response to the appeal launched by the IFRC. Prospects for additional support were poor and available funding exhausted, and in order to minimise the deficit, the operation was prematurely closed in May 2009. The balance of funds from the operation will be used for on-going health and care activities in Zimbabwe. This report is issued in the interim whilst the National Society consolidates a report from all the provinces.