Funding by the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund
(CERF) for three IOM programmes in Zimbabwe assisting mobile and
vulnerable populations will provide critical, life-saving
humanitarian assistance to communities across the country.

Nearly half of the USD 1.7 million donation will provide
much-needed support through emergency shelter, access to clean
water and sanitation, as well as information and resources to
counter HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence to mobile and vulnerable
populations (MVPs).

Since 2006, IOM has registered more than 226,000 individuals who
fall into this group and who face a daily struggle to
survive.  They face a heightened risk to environmental and
health hazards due to a lack of clean water and sanitation
facilities, as well as an increased vulnerability to HIV and AIDS
and gender-based violence. The new CERF funding will provide
life-saving assistance to nearly 7,000 people.

With recent floods in Zimbabwe leading to outbreaks of diarrhea
and cholera, highlighting health needs in particular among this
group of people, IOM will be able to help strengthen and support
the national response through the provision of community health
kits, the expansion of the community health volunteer network and
by conducting outreach through IOM's mobile health clinics. 
This emergency health assistance will reach more than 32,198
people.

The remainder of the funds, USD 630,000 will be used for a new
programme targeting the children of mobile and vulnerable groups,
especially orphans, who have no access to basic education.
Educational and recreational activities will be restored in a safe
environment for children and adolescents alike. IOM will partner
with the British and Norwegian arms of the international NGO Save
the Children, with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
serving as a technical partner to identify target groups and
provide the educational recreational kits.

At least 10,000 children affected by displacement will benefit
through new school books and refurbished school buildings and
sanitation facilities. Teachers will also be trained in HIV and
AIDS prevention, psycho-social support, sexual gender-based
violence (SGBV), health and hygiene and child protection
issues.

IOM has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1985 with a variety of
programmes. It has been working to assist mobile and vulnerable
populations since 2003 and in that time has provided emergency
shelter and health assistance, livelihood activities and
awareness-raising on HIV and AIDS, SGBV, and safe migration.

For additional information, please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Harare

Tel: +263 4 335 048

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