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Zimbabwe Complex Emergency Situation Report #8, FY 2009
USAID / DCHA
July 16, 2009

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Background

Humanitarian conditions for most Zimbabweans remain difficult due to the country's economic crisis, limited access to basic services, the effects of HIV and AIDS, poorly maintained infrastructure, political instability, and violence. Although national incidence rates have stabilized, cholera remains a concern due to the potential for localized outbreaks. Previous Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) policies and corruption, as well as a decade of economic decline characterized by hyperinflation and high unemployment, have resulted in poor infrastructure for agricultural production, water and sanitation, and power generation. Although food security in Zimbabwe has improved in 2009, relief agencies predict the need for a large-scale food assistance program starting in August or September, when food stores from the April 2009 harvest will likely be exhausted. Relief agencies provided emergency food assistance to more than 5 million people per month between December 2008 and March 2009.

On February 11, 2009, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) implemented the September 2008 Global Political Agreement, forming a transitional government. However, tensions remain regarding ongoing police detentions of political activists, appointments to government posts, negotiations to draft a new constitution, and ongoing farm seizures, which disrupt agricultural production and lead to internal displacement.

On October 6, 2008, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., Katherine S. Dhanani reissued a disaster declaration in Zimbabwe due to the complex emergency. On December 16, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., declared a disaster due to the effects of the cholera outbreak. From mid-December 2008 through early April 2009, a USAID/OFDA Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) based in Zimbabwe identified humanitarian needs resulting from the cholera outbreak, evaluated response effectiveness, conducted field assessments, and participated in U.N. cluster meetings. To date in FY 2009, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided nearly $164 million for health, protection, disaster risk reduction, agriculture and food security, economy and market systems, humanitarian coordination and information management, local and regional food procurement and distribution, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs in Zimbabwe, as well as emergency relief supplies and food assistance.

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