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Zimbabwe
Humanitarian Situation Report
The
UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator’s Bi-Monthly Report No 3/03
February 11, 2003
Joint Workshop
on Humanitarian Principles
A
joint workshop looking at Humanitarian Principles and
Practices
and their
consequences in the current humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe
is being
planned. It will be held in Harare in March 2003.
With the humanitarian
situation set to persist, it is crucial to review interventions
at this time to ensure that they are well co-ordinated and that
they adhere to humanitarian principles and address the people in
real need.
Facilitated
by UN, OCHA, ECHO and SAHRIT, and bringing together all major stakeholders
(GoZ, Donors, UN Agencies, and NGOs), the workshop will:
- Raise awareness
on the importance of humanitarian principles and the conceptual
framework governing humanitarian interventions;
- Highlight
the position of vulnerable groups to ensure that they fully benefit
from the practical application of humanitarian principles in interventions
of these kinds;
- Provide an
opportunity for an exchange of learning experiences and practices
among all stakeholders.
  Drought
conditions persist
The
Rainfall Section at the Department of Meteorological Services have
reported that the rainfall situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated.
Due to the persistent dry conditions, much of the country is now
well below the expected accumulated rainfall for the period October
to present. Figures vary throughout the country with the southern
and central districts most affected, in terms of both rainfall so
far and crop development. These areas have experienced 4 consecutive
years of poor harvests. Areas around Beitbridge and Gweru have received
less than 50% of expected rainfall, and one station, Odzi, reported
receiving just 28%. Gokwe and Kadoma have received above 90% of
the expected rainfall so far. 20% of those stations that submitted
data reported 50% or below of expected rainfall, while just 23%
reported 75% and above.
Current status
of rolling assessments
Nutrition
and EPI Assessment
Fieldwork
for the National Nutrition and Expanded Programme of Immunisations
(EPI) Assessment is scheduled to take place in each of the 58 rural
and 3 urban districts from the 10-22 February 2003. UNICEF reported
that the National Training of Trainers workshops have taken place
(29 January – 1 February 2003). This was facilitated by members
of the Technical Task Force (MoHCW, EPI, UN Agencies and NGO representatives).
During this time the survey tool was also field-tested. The survey
intends to establish the following;
- Child Nutritional
Status
- Crude Mortality
and Under 5 Mortality
- Child Morbidity
- EPI coverage
including Tetanus Toxoid for Mothers
- General Food
Distribution and Child Supplementary Feeding Programme Coverage
- Breastfeeding
Practices
- Orphans
Catholic
Relief Services carry out crop assessment
CRS
carried out a mission to assess crop condition in four districts
in mid-January 2003. The mission noted that in Muwera and Rusape
Districts, the crop condition was generally good due to the fact
that these two districts had received satisfactory rains to date.
Expected yields are between 1 and 2MT/ha. However in Lupane and
Tsholosho Districts, the maize crop was severely stressed due to
little rainfall. Maize yields are expected to be 0.5MT/ha or less.
National
Crop Assessment
GoZ
is planning to begin a national crop assessment towards the end
of February. This assessment will give a clear indication of the
expected yields nationally and this will assist in programming for
future food needs.
Food Security
and Vulnerability Assessment
A
Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment, organised by ZimVAC,
is planned for March/April 2003.
Input distribution
underway
FAO
reported that all major seed distributions for the main planting
season were completed by the 25th January 2003. A total
of 47,880 farming households received seed from FAO through Implementing
Partners. The types and total quantities of seed purchased by FAO
are as follows; Maize (478.8MT), Sorghum (95.76MT), Cowpeas (95.76MT),
Sugarbeans (47.88MT) and Rape (0.96MT).
In partnership
with CRS, FAO sponsored six seed fairs. The last three seed fairs
were held on the 31st of January 2003 in Murewa district
and were focusing mainly on crops that can be grown during this
time of the year. Such crops included sugarbeans and vegetables.
3000 farmers benefited in the Murewa seed fairs.
The quantities
of seed purchased included 2.6MT of sugar beans, worth ZW$5.4 million,
various types of vegetable seed worth ZW$2.1 million and as much
as 4MT of maize worth ZW$1.6 million. All in all 6000 farming households
were supported in the six seed fairs that were held in two districts,
Rusape and Murewa.
Fertilizer
FAO
has purchased 603MT of Urea top dressing fertilizer using funds
from ECHO. This will support over 12,000 households in the better
rainfall areas in Agroecological zones II and III.
Winter
crop
FAO
is planning to assist approximately 100,000 households with distribution
of seeds (vegetables, beans) to be planted in February – March.
This exercise is funded by ECHO and will be carried out through
implementing partners (NGOs).
WFP food
distribution doubles
WFP
have reported that in January 2003 they distributed a total of 42,430MT
of food to just over 3.3 million beneficiaries in 47 districts.
This amount is double that distributed in December 2002 and is the
highest monthly achievement since the relief programme began. This
brings the total amount of food distributed since WFP started emergency
operations in Zimbabwe in February 2002 to 162,214MT.
WFP have estimated
that nationally they expect to support up to 4.5 million beneficiaries
in February 2003 and as many as 5 million beneficiaries in March
2003.
NGOs intensify
food aid efforts
Save
the Children (UK) established a food aid programme in Binga District
in October 2001, providing targeted rations to the poorest sections
of the communities. The project has since expanded to cover part
of the population in rural Kariba (Nyaminyami) District, and informal
mining communities in Zvimba District. The provision of general
rations, and supplementary feeding run by the Catholic Development
Commission (CADEC), has helped to keep the acute malnutrition rate
low (4.2% in December 2002).
SC (UK) feel
that while many of the difficulties associated with identifying
and reaching the most vulnerable people are well known, in their
own experience, one of the greatest challenges is the practical
and ethical difficulty of excluding those with cash or other convertible
assets, such as livestock, when those people can find little or
no food to buy on the market. Free distributions of food are not
ideal for that group, but humanitarian agencies cannot sell food,
nor can they manage alternatives such as food-for-work when large
numbers of people are affected.
In Binga, from
January 2002, when food shortages in the markets began, management
of targeted distributions became difficult. At one distribution
point in Sinamagonde Ward almost 10,000 people arrived at a distribution
point seeking food, when 3,000 people had been targeted. Security
became a problem, and on two occasions distributions had to be suspended
when crowds of non-beneficiaries hoping for food became too difficult
to manage.
The value of
being included on a food aid register also increases when food cannot
be bought; and when all are competing to be registered, the incentive
for corruption greatly increases. Meanwhile, the shortages push
up the parallel market price of the little grain available, and
livelihoods can be severely damaged in the effort to afford that
grain.
Due to the increasing
demand for food, Save the Children has had to increase beneficiary
numbers to cover almost the entire population of Binga. However,
this is certainly not an optimal use of aid resources. The experience
in Binga and elsewhere points to the necessity of food aid and market
supplies of food working hand-in-hand to address shortages.
NGO capacity
building
A
consultancy has been initiated to look at the need for capacity
building within the NGO community. This consultancy will establish
an analysis of what are the main capacity and management constraints
affecting NGOs working in the humanitarian field in Zimbabwe. The
consultancy will take note of donor, government and UN perceptions
on NGO capacity as well as the interpretations from the NGOs themselves.
It will also examine what capacity building work is currently being
undertaken within the NGO sector and what the main gaps are. The
final report is anticipated by the end of February 2003.
RRU provides
more services
Despite
not yet having RRU field-based staff, a joint validation mission
(GoZ/UN Agency/RRU) to Matabeleland South took place from 30 January
– 1 February. The team’s purpose was to assist the community in
dealing with an incident. A joint report has been prepared and is
being looked at by the concerned agencies. The RIV section has most
recently been in contact with one of the provincial Governors to
assist the province by looking into vulnerability needs in the ex-commercial
farming areas. A field visit to follow-up on this is being planned.
RRU is also
in the process of setting up Community Liaison offices. The objective
of these new offices is to specifically observe humanitarian assistance
at the local level. These teams will provide objective information
on humanitarian needs and practices that will be useful to all stakeholders.
Initial plans are for field offices in 4 provinces although this
can be adapted as the programme progresses to meet the requirements
of the operating environment.
Zero Tolerance
on child abuse
UNICEF
is continuing its work in the communities to sensitize humanitarian
workers, government representatives, teachers and journalists on
the prevention of child abuse and sexual exploitation in the context
of the humanitarian crisis. Training has taken place at national
and provincial levels and in the districts where WFP implementing
partners are distributing food. Since August 2002, the programme
has sensitized 5,250 people. 10,000 music cassettes were printed
and distributed to truck drivers as part of the relief efforts with
music and messages on HIV AIDS and child abuse, child rights and
child protection. This initiative is being jointly implemented by
WFP, the Child Protection Society and Malitaba.
UNICEF has prepared
a preliminary agenda for the evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Campaign
against Child Abuse, which is going to be conducted in March with
support from ESARO. Feedback from participants attending the ongoing
workshops is positive, stating: ‘they found it useful, enlightening
and very relevant in the current humanitarian assistance initiative’.
The Zero Tolerance
Steering Group is holding meetings with the Ministries of Public
Services, Labour and Social Welfare, Local Government and with Justice
to agree on common plans for 2003 with regard to care and support
for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and street children. They
will be working directly with the communities, urban and peri-urban
areas using the Community Capacity Development (CCD) strategy and
strengthening the judicial component to the protection programme
especially in regard to victims of child abuse.
Research
on Satellite Schools presented
Research
on satellite schools, commissioned by UNICEF and carried out by
the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture in November and December
2002 has been made public. The main aim of the research was to collect
data on satellite schools, which are those schools that emerged
as result of population movement following the resettlement programme,
and the subsequent need created to facilitate access to education
for children in resettlement areas. The survey covered a total of
38 districts and there was a 73% response rate (representing 252
out of 346 authorised schools, with a total enrolment of 47,396
pupils).
The satellite
schools showed enrolment patterns representative of the national
pattern (51% boys, 49% girls), however enrolment shows a decreasing
pattern from grades one to seven. Hunger was identified as one of
the major reasons for pupils dropping out of school. Transfer of
pupils to other schools was also identified as a factor.
Generally, the
findings indicate a lack of confidence in satellite schools due
to lack of basic teaching materials and aids, shortage of trained
teachers, poor infrastructure, and lack of water and sanitation
facilities.
The findings
of the research on satellite schools found that food assistance
was identified as the only source of food for some pupils. This
highlights the need to increase the scope of feeding scheme activities.
A supplementary feeding programme by Christian Care, Care Zimbabwe
and the Ministry of Social Welfare is operating in 28% of satellite
schools but the impact is likely to be affected by problems of delays
in food delivery and inconsistencies in food supplies.
This research
highlights increased emphasis on satellite schools as a genuine
priority not only in terms of food assistance but also in terms
of a broader integrated education improvement programme including
infrastructure improvements, teacher training and the provision
of basic materials.
Supplementary
Feeding in Primary Schools Nationally
UNICEF
have reported that there are 12 districts where 100% of children
in grades 1-7 are receiving supplementary feeding and 27 districts
where only a proportion of school children are receiving supplementary
feeding and 19 districts where there is no supplementary feeding
for school children. There is a need to coverage of supplementary
feeding in those districts where only some or no children are receiving
supplementary feeding.
As a means of
taking this and other work on education forward, it was agreed that
a working group on education should be revived and membership expanded.
The planned activities of the working groups in the short run include:
A field visit to the satellite schools; and a direct link into the
programme strategy and formulation of the RRU.
UN addresses
recovery planning issues
RRU
is working on a strategy for providing assistance to national recovery
planning. A complete Recovery team is now in place at the RRU. In
consultation and partnership with the relevant agencies and organisations,
it is expected that the team will focus on two recovery areas in
particular;
- Food availability
focusing on ways of opening the food market, increasing the awareness
of the availability of indigenous plants and fruits, stimulation
wheat production and promoting the large scale use of drought
resistant crops;
- Developing
a strategy for better targeting and specific HIV/AIDS programming
that includes; distribution of adapted food packs, low intensive
agriculture methods, income generating schemes and safety nets.
Efforts stepped
up on HIV/AIDS
RRU
is working in close collaboration with UNAIDS to strengthen co-ordination
and increase emphasis on HIV/AIDS oriented relief and recovery interventions
as key programme priorities. The focus of this work is will be on
mainstreaming HIV/AIDS initiatives in the country in line with priority
being accorded by the UN and stakeholder community at large.
RRU has provided
support to UNAIDS in reviving the HIV/AIDS working group and initiating
a database on HIV/AIDS interventions, gaps in provision and funding
requirements. This mapping exercise will compliment the working
groups’ efforts to ascertain effective co-ordination, networking
and information sharing amongst all stakeholders. Proposals for
the revival of the HIV/AIDS working group have been considered
Disease Surveillance
Weekly Surveillance
data reports from MoHCW reveal that timeliness and completeness
of reporting of epidemic prone diseases improved over the last few
weeks – 61% and 65% respectively. However this is still below the
targeted average of 80% for both.
Diarrhoeal
Diseases
UNICEF
reported that the cholera situation in the country is still uncertain
with more districts reporting sporadic cases. Active surveillance
for cholera cases is underway, involving monitoring of diarrhoea
cases in Rural Health Centres. There is intensification of community
health and hygiene education. General diarrhoeal cases were reported
to be on the decline.
Malaria
Because
of the rainfall/temperature pattern in the country (intermittent
rains followed by hot, dry spells), WHO reported that there has
been a substantial increase in clinical cases of malaria. A hot-spot
appears to be Mashonaland Central Province with a 90% increase.
UNICEF is procuring 17,200 insecticide-treated nets, and is working
with partners on how best to further contribute to the Roll Back
Malaria Initiative.
Supply
of Vaccines
WHO
has reported that vaccine supply in the country is expected to improve
once the vaccines on order have arrived in the country. The general
vital drugs supply situation in the country remains critical with
Harare city reporting that some TB drugs are out of stock in the
health facilities. The malaria drug situation is unsatisfactory
at a national level, with some provinces reporting stock levels
varying between one month and 3 months cover. Efforts are being
made by all major stakeholders to get a sustainable solution to
the vaccine crisis.
For additional
information or comments, please contact the United Nations Relief
and Recovery Unit, Harare Tel: +263 4 792681, ext. 207 or e-mail:
rru.zw@undp.org
This Situation
Report can be accessed on the Web at: www.reliefweb.int
then click on "by country", then click on "Zimbabwe"
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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