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Zimbabwe Humanitarian Situation Report
The UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator’s Bi-Monthly Report
September 30, 2002

UN prepares to update the Consolidated Appeal
In order to mobilize additional resources to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in Zimbabwe, the UNCT has started to update the Consolidated Appeal. This exercise has to be completed in time for the Global Launch of Consolidated Appeals on 19 November 2002. The update will highlight conditions that have changed significantly since the launch of the appeal in July 2002.

WFP food aid distribution reaches 825,000 People
Between 20 February- 23 September 2002 WFP had distributed 44,742MT to over 825,000 vulnerable Zimbabweans. WFP food distributions now cover 21 districts. Registration of beneficiaries through NGO partners is in progress in 7 additional districts.

Table: Amount of food distributed and number of beneficiaries

Province	Distributions 15-23 September	No of Beneficiaries	MT	% of MT
Masvingo	738	281,499	14,945	34
Mash West	170	33,204	2,244	5
Mash Cent	444	88,677	4,066	9
Mat South	897	159,987	9,840	22
Mat North	tba	68,286	3,460	7
Midlands	813	125,958	6,347	14
Manicaland	151	67,669	3,840	9
Total	3,213	825,280	44,742	100

WFP food distribution in Zvishavane district (Midlands province) was launched on 17 September at Musipani. At the launch, WFP and implementing partner, CARE reiterated the beneficiary selection criteria, registration and distribution process. They also emphasized the impartial nature of WFP food aid. Drama performances by school children illustrated the beneficiary selection criteria. Pre-distribution processes continued in other districts, including Bubi district (Matabeleland North) where WFP staff held discussions with the Drought Relief Committee. Similar exercises were held in Mashonaland Central province regarding commencement of food distribution in the districts of Rushinga, Mazowe, and Shamva.

Commercial farm workers to receive food aid
The Government has granted permission to Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe (FCTZ) to import and distribute 5,000MT of food commodities for 60,300 beneficiaries in the farming communities including farm workers.

Preparation for the 2002/2003 agricultural season
GoZ intends to spend Z$8.5 billion towards procurement of agricultural inputs.

Table: Estimates of the government supported inputs as of 16 September 2002

Item	Amount allocated	Quantity available on the market	Quantity to be purchased
Maize seed	Zw$2.75 billion	47 500 tons	25 000 tons
Small grains	Zw$0.25 billion	300 tons on market	500 tons
Fertilizers	Zw$2.9 billion	400 000 tons planting fertilizer	80 000 tons
	US$2.0 million	200 000 tons top dressing fertilizer	50 000 tons
Chemicals	Zw$ 100.0 million	Not stated	To cover for input packages
Tillage	Zw$1.5 billion for winter and summer		90 000 ha in summer

Seeds
About 47, 500 MT of seed maize is available in the country. GoZ through the Ministry of Lands announced price increase of seeds by between 120 to 300%. The Government reported that it will provide 25 000 MT of maize seed and 500 MT small grains seed to small-scale farmers. This amount would plant up to 1.0 million hectares compared to 1.4 million ha planted in 2001/2002.

Fertilizers and Chemicals
There is a serious shortage of ammonia nitrate fertilizer, however the Government reported that enough fertilizer will be made available. The country requires about 240 000 MT of ammonium nitrate per year.

Tillage
The Government reported that Z$1.5 billion have been released to the DDF and ARDA for tillage to the small-scale farmers. However, the two organizations do not have sufficient tractors and implements. DDF is operating at 50% capacity. To date DDF has ploughed only 7 135 ha. Draught power from livestock is negatively impacted by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Masvingo, Matebeleland and Midlands provinces.

Agricultural emergency operations
FAO has reported that it will provide agricultural inputs (10kg maize, 3kg millet & sorghum, 3kg pulses and 20g rape per household) to 48,000 vulnerable households in Zimbabwe. Funds for this intervention have been received from the Government of Sweden, and from FAO’s own resources. A mission is expected in Harare on 7 October 2002 to put in place a procurement process for these inputs.

WHO responds to the health sector needs
A consignment of drugs procured under HARP has started arriving in the country. These drugs are being distributed through the National Pharmaceutical Company. The distribution mechanism is being worked out in collaboration with stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that the drugs reach the targeted populations expeditiously. WHO has made a special request to all organizations involved in the food distribution to assist with drug distribution at sub-district level. WFP has already indicated interest in assisting in this regard. WHO is supporting MoHCW for emergency health needs interventions by-:

• Repairing radio communication at the peripheral health institutions as part of the disease surveillance and facilitating prompt reporting and response to disease epidemics.
• Training health personnel in epidemic preparedness and response.
• Supporting logistics to improve outreach services and capacitate the MoHCW at community level to promptly identify and respond to disease epidemics including cholera and other epidemic prone diseases.
• Capacitating the MoHCW headquarters to support the response to the current humanitarian crisis affecting the health of the vulnerable populations.

HIV/AIDS worsens the humanitarian crisis
UNICEF has noted that HIV/AIDS has far reaching implications in the current crisis. There is a close link between HIV/AIDS and food insecurity since HIV/AIDS impacts the ability of families to produce or acquire food. As people become increasingly desperate for food and other resources, they may engage in high-risk behavior such as prostitution or migration that leaves them vulnerable to infections, further compounding the effects of drought on affected population.

More children drop out of school
WFP reported that the incidence of school dropout and child labour are on the increase in all parts of the country. UNICEF has noted that school attendance is declining due to increased demands on children by their families to participate in household activities such as collecting water, searching for wild fruits, carrying out small jobs for food or money, or caring for sick family members. Increased absenteeism may also result from reduced energy levels, as children become more malnourished or sick.

In Manicaland, a WFP and partner NGO survey in selected schools revealed a critical and deteriorating situation. Many children have only tea for breakfast. Their main meal is dinner, usually a little sadza (maize meal pap) or vegetables. In some areas, teachers are reporting weekly absenteeism of children up to 50%. In Zaka district, 100 children have recently dropped out from Bota Primary School. Those dropping out of school are mainly boys, whose families have put them to work as cattle herders.

In response to the plight of the school children, WFP is working with NGOs on the modalities of providing CSB to make porridge for pupils in selected schools in Manicaland province. UNICEF recommended the need for stakeholders’ support to ensure that schools remain functioning and that children continue attending classes. Education supplies are also required to reduce the need for families to make a choice between using scarce household resources for food or for education.

UNICEF makes progress in the Child Protection Sector
As a follow up to the Training of Trainers on child abuse and sexual exploitation, which was held in Kadoma from 28-29 August 2002, UNICEF has continued to support the follow up activities by various organisations. The objective is to strengthen decentralised training of humanitarian aid workers on the prevention of child abuse and sexual exploitation during the relief response co-ordinated within the context of the Child Protection Working Group.

Participants to the Protection Working Group agreed to form a multi-sectoral/multi-disciplinary training committee to co-ordinate further training efforts on prevention of child abuse and sexual exploitation. Some of the main duties of this WG would be to adapt a training manual to the needs of the various requests for training, to monitor impact of training and arrange for more training at grassroots level. Membership of the Committee includes representatives from different sectors (UN agencies, NGOs and Government).

The Child Protection Working Group agreed to commission a media strategy to support awareness raising and sensitisation efforts through the print media, radio and television. The strategy consists of printing 100,000 pamphlets and 50,000 posters in English, Shona and Ndebele as well as developing and broadcasting radio and television core messages/spots on child abuse and sexual exploitation.

Humanitarian information sharing encouraged
UNICEF and the Poverty Reduction Forum organized a one-day stakeholders meeting on the humanitarian crisis to share information and to explore ways of synchronizing and coordinating their responses to maximize their impact. The meeting focused on non-food aspects of the humanitarian crisis such as child protection, HIV/AIDS and water and sanitation. Stakeholders resolved to set up a taskforce to coordinate information sharing among NGOs on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

Efforts to control cholera intensify
WHO reported a cholera outbreak in Bikita and Zaka districts (Masvingo province). A total of 462 cases and 24 deaths have been recorded as at 24 September 2002. The Agency is collaborating with GoZ, UNICEF and the Red Cross movement in the intervention exercise to control the disease. Z$11,243 million have been granted to Masvingo province by WHO for the purchase of drugs including logistics support and training of health personnel for control of the epidemic. Furthermore, WHO is supporting the production of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for community awareness and education programmes to help control of the disease epidemic.

This Situation Report can be accessed on the Web at: www.reliefweb.int then click on "by country", then click on "Zimbabwe"

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