Heavy
rainfall in Zimbabwe continues to cause flooding and waterlogging,
affecting at least 9,000 people. Rivers have burst their banks and
some low-lying areas have been cut off with crops struggling to
survive in the waterlogged soil. While assessments are still ongoing,
members of the global alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT),
report that the government, civil society and ACT member responses
have been able to meet the immediate needs of those most severely
affected.
Lutheran
Development Service (LDS), a member of ACT, reports water logging
in its operational areas of Chivi, Mwenezi, Mberengwa and Zvishavane.
LDS also indicates that while severe flooding has not been experienced
thus far in these areas, it is evident that there will be poor harvests
in the months to come. Matabeleland South dams are reported to be some 50 percent full, up from
levels as low as 2 percent. Damage to infrastructure has been largely
as a result of storms and torrential rains rather than floods. LDS
has received reports of damage to school roofs, clinics and toilets
in their operational area, in addition to roads, bridges and electrical
transformers, which has severely hampered communications.
ACT
member, Christian Care, reports that 9,000 people are affected by
the heavy rains in the Mid-Zambezi Valley, one of its operational
areas. Some areas are accessible with difficulty, as the roads
are still treacherous. Other locations are completely inaccessible
due to damaged bridges. Christian Care reports the following damage
to local infrastructure in the area: 2 bridges, 20 inverts, 20 culverts,
35km gravel road, 8 boreholes and 17 wells, 1x 10 block of toilets,
1 blair toilet, 1 government house at Chadereka School and the foundation
of Chadereka Clinic.
In
Chipinge, floods were primarily the result of heavy rains upstream
on the Save River. The Tongogara refugee camp, now being managed
by Christian Care, was greatly affected with damage to some huts,
toilets and a water system. Christian Care has provided food to
refugees at the camp with the support of the World Food Programme
(WFP). In 11 villages in the area, houses, toilets and boreholes
were destroyed with a total of 1,043 households affected. For a
period of time, the Masimbe village could not be accessed and boats
were used to reach the marooned community. Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), including the Zimbabwe Red Cross, have been responding to
address immediate needs such as food and clothing in the most severe
situations identified. Christian Care is also planning to assist
affected families through food support.
Christian
Care, with the support of WFP, provided food assistance comprising
of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil and corn soya blend (CSB) to more
than 8,600 people in Centenary. The Zimbabwe Red Cross, the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organisation
(WHO) and the government provided tents for temporary shelter, blankets,
water containers, aqua tablets, medicines, mosquito nets and other
food and non-food items (NFIs). Some needs still do remain.
ACT members
are responding in limited areas where necessary and are preparing
to scale up if required. At present, ACT members report that there is not an immediate need to respond
with more than the present activities, as there is not currently
a national crisis and those worst affected have generally received
support from humanitarian agencies.
The
activities under the current ACT appeal for Zimbabwe have been affected
by the sustained rains and as the situation continues to unfold,
the appeal activities, operational areas and timeframe may need
to be revised.
ACT
members are coordinating their efforts with other agencies and will
remain in contact with the ACT Coordinating Office (CO).
