Zimbabwe: Floods Situation Report No. 9 (as of 16 May 2014)

Highlights

• The disaster declaration expired on 9 May, three months after the onset of the emergency, and will not be extended.

• The food situation at Chingwizi is critical with nothing in stock for May.

• There are currently 3,125 households living at either the camp or permanent site at Chingwizi.

• According to district authorities, 376 families have relocated to the permanent site at Chingwizi.

• Humanitarian assistance continues, but gaps remain and need to be addressed.

3,125 Households at Chingwizi.

376 Households relocated to permanent site.

US$2.5m Gap in resources needed for the response.

3.1% Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) prevalence at Chingwizi.

457 Families need additional shelter at Chingwizi.

Situation Overview

About 3,125 households comprising an estimated 15,625 people are living at Chingwizi. Efforts to decongest the camp by moving people to the permanent site have met resistance from the community. Only 376 families had relocated to the permanent site by 15 May as most of them are waiting for compensation. Government owes more than 2,000 households an estimated $9 million in compensation. In the hope of addressing people’s reluctance to leave the camp for the permanent site while waiting for compensation, Government plans to give affected families promissory notes pledging to compensate them for assets lost and the amount owed while funds are being sought.

Efforts to address the community have also met resistance, with the community jeering a ministerial delegation that had gone to address them on 10 May.

The food situation at Chingwizi is precarious, with barely enough stocks received for May. This is of particular concern as the disaster declaration came to an end on 9 May, raising worries that attention and resources may shift from the emergency before needs are fully met.

Humanitarian assistance continues, although gaps remain and new issues need to be addressed as people relocate to the permanent site. Emerging issues include the need for early recovery and livelihoods support to enable the community to resume their lives with minimum dependence on aid.