Manicaland – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) brought a high-level delegation to the hardest hit areas of Zimbabwe following the after math of Cyclone Idai. The delegation, which comprised the IOM Regional Director Southern Africa Charles Kwenin, IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission Mario Lito Malanca, and the Director of Operations and Emergencies, Mohammed Abdiker, interacted with government and affected people in Chimanimani and chipinge districts, to establish the needs and challenges faced by the communities affected by Cyclone Idai.

The delegation had the opportunity to visit Kopa and Ngangu, two communities of Chimanimani where the most displacements took place. Kopa, a once flourishing growth point with more than 77 households, was reduced to a sea of boulders with its surviving residents now seeking shelter in surrounding households.  305 people are still missing and those who survived are still struggling to find their relatives, many who are still under the debris.

Upon seeing the level of destruction caused by the cyclone, the delegation assured the affected communities of its support. “It is important that we talk to the people to establish their needs and challenges. As humanitarian agencies we are going to do our best to coordinate and give as much support as we can.”, said Charles Kwenin, IOM Regional Director.

The flooding caused by Cyclone Idai affected 270 000 persons with an estimated 21 000 persons displaced in chipinge and Chimanimani districts. Many were left without shelter; their homes were severely damaged or destroyed and they are now residing in collective centres such as schools, hotel conference rooms and vacant shops as well as with relatives and well-wishers whose houses were unaffected.

“The situation is dire. Of the 270,000 persons that were displaced, nearly 240,000 are in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. In the immediate term, there is need for emergency shelter, however there is need to also start thinking about more permanent solutions to the shelter challenge as people can only live in collective centers and temporary displacement sites for a short period of time.” Explained Mr Mashava, Chipinge District Administrator.

“At IOM, we are looking at best ways to assist the affected communities especially in terms of shelter, psychosocial support and Non-Food Items (NFIs). We are here to support the people of Zimbabwe in the best way that we can,” said Muhammed Abdiker, Director of Operations and Emergencies.

In response to the crisis in Zimbabwe, IOM has launched an appeal to the international community for USD 7.2 million to enable the Organization to provide multi-sectorial humanitarian assistance to 90,000 individuals across the following sectors; Shelter and -food Items (NFI), Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Health, Protection, Displacement Tracking, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Early Recovery. While activities are divided by traditional response sectors, IOM seeks to find synergies in programming, preferring efficient multisector response wherever possible. IOM will also take the lead in the shelter and NFI Cluster as well as in the CCCM response, as the global cluster lead for displacement in natural disaster emergency settings.

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For more information, please contact:

Abibo Ngandu, Regional Media and Communication, angandu@iom.int

Varaidzo Mudombi, IOM Zimbabwe Office, vmudombi@iom.int