Zimbabwe - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 5

Ref: OCHA/GVA-2000/0068
Zimbabwe - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 5
27 March 2000

International Appeal

1. On 23 March, the updated UN Inter-Agency Appeal amounting to USD 3.31 million was shared locally at a donor meeting (The full document is available on the OCHA Internet Website at : http://www.reliefweb.int and a hard copy is with OCHA Geneva). The updated appeal included proposals from UNHCR and the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) as an annex. UNHCR will provide emergency assistance (food, household items, water and sanitation) and assist short-term rehabilitation and repair work to damaged camp structures at Tongogara camp. Tongogara camp is located in Chipinge district in Manicaland province, housing nearly 400 persons. NANGO will assist the NGO Liaison Committee on Disasters (NLCD) in coordinating NGO response to the flood disaster and create a liaison mechanism between the Government, donors, the UN agencies and NGOs.

2. The following is the summary of the requirements by sector and by agency:

Summary table on requirements by sector (UN Appeal)

Summary table on Estimated Budgets For the UN Response (US$)

*Some contributions made to Health sector (UNICEF and WHO) have not been reflected in the above table, as those are still 'commitments.'

3. The total requirements of the Government, UN agencies and relief organizations including NGOs are as follows:

USD 3.9 million (including commitment/pledges) have been provided so far to the Government, UN agencies and NGOs. The outstanding requirements are for repair of main roads and bridges to improve access to the affected areas, as there is a need for food assistance to the affected people who have been isolated. Repairing of roads is also a critical element for local economic activities. For instance, in Mutare (Manicaland province), sawmills employing a large number of workers are not operational as timbers cannot be transported under the current condition of roads and bridges. The infrastructure rehabilitation is reflected in the section, 'Communications and Transport,' under UNDP.

4. Two important sectors, which are not addressed in the current appeal, are shelter and environment. These and other longer-term needs/requirements will be reflected in the next revision of the appeal.

Situation

5. The UN Teams returned to Harare after two weeks in the field assisting civil protection teams (Situation Report No.4 para 2 refers). Their report indicates that data gathering is still a problem due to the inaccessibility of some affected areas and the lack of resources for the civil protection teams at district and provincial levels.

6. Districts requiring priority interventions include Chiredzi, in Masvingo province, Plumtree in Matebeleland South province, and Chipinge and Chimanimani in Manicaland province. The continuing rains are hindering the recovery process and are damaging crops, in the southern part of the country.

Contributions

7. Donors are kindly requested to respond to the appeal generously and inform OCHA on their contributions.

8. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in coordination with the relevant organisations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA Account No. CO-590.160.1 SWIFT-code UBSWCHZ12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Zimbabwe - Floods 2000.

9. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding value by item.

10. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch): Mr. K. Wiersing /Ms. Y. Sawada, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2270 / +41-22-917 1768

Press contact: Press contact: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53