Relentless rain continues to cause severe flooding in many areas of
northeastern of Zimbabwe, leaving severe destruction and affecting
at least 8,000 people.

In Chipinge district on the Mozambican border, IOM teams
continue to assess and register flood- affected families to ensure
they receive much needed assistance in the form of mosquito nets,
tarpaulins, blankets, water purifying tablets and Information,
Education and Communication (IEC) materials on cholera, diarrhea,
malaria and HIV/AIDS. Over the past week, more than 800 vulnerable
households have received assistance.  

Many crops have been washed away and households who have been
dependent on monthly food aid from the World Food Programme have
seen their food stocks destroyed and are now depending on other
households in the communities who managed to salvage their own
stocks. 

In the low-lying Zambezi Valley district of Muzarabani, where
IOM has been providing aqua tabs, tarpaulins, blankets and mosquito
nets as well as IEC materials to flood affected households, the
situation seems to have improved with no further emergency
interventions planned at this stage.

In the district of Gutu, in Masvingo province, IOM teams have
found that crops and granaries have been severely affected by flood
waters. Some families who have lost their home and belongings have
been forced into makeshift shelters whilst waiting for waters to
subside. 

In Harare, the communities of Epworth and Caledonia are
particularly affected by the rains with the collapse of building
structures and a break down of sanitary infrastructures. In
Caledonia alone, 219 households were destroyed and shallow wells
are now overflowing.  To address the health concerns of flood
affected communities, IOM has dispatched a mobile health clinic and
continues its distribution of aqua tabs, mosquito nets, plastic
sheeting and tarpaulins.

For further information, please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Harare

Tel +263 433 50 48

E-mail: "mailto:efoster@iom.int">efoster@iom.int