At the end of April, South Africa decided that it would no longer accept asylum claims from third-country nationals that used Zimbabwe as transit countries, unless they could positively indentify themselves and provide justification why they could not seek asylum in other countries.
This has resulted in South Africa refusing entry and asylum applications to several hundred asylum seekers from the Great Lakes/Horn of Africa region.
A recent trip to Nyamapanda Border Post by The Zimbabwean showed that refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia who were flocking into Zimbabwe from neighbouring Mozambique were now being refused entry.
A large number of those refugees affected by this development are currently in Zimbabwe and the government and humanitarian actors have so far responded to the humanitarian needs of 7 200 people who reportedly arrived within the First Quarter of this year.
Food security problem
In a Report, which is in our possession, the UN says Zimbabwe also needs to quickly improve food security levels, prevent and respond as soon as possible to various disease outbreaks, as well as respond to natural disasters.
"All these activities will be undertaken while ensuring that humanitarian and government priorities remain complimentary in all areas of intervention," the Report says.
It reveals that for the 12 months from January to December, this year, Zimbabwe would need at least US$488 million for its struggling poor rural population.
According to the requests from the Government of National Unity (GNU) the UN says people in the rural areas each need an average of US$54 to survive monthly. This is the funding that has been requested by the GNU per beneficiary from the donor funds requested for 2011.
The Report says nine million Zimbabweans, especially young children and women, need cash for water and sanitation and health services, while eight million lined up for funds for health services only.
The Report says 6,2 million individuals will need money for agricultural purposes, while 4,95 million were begging for funds for nutrition, especially for women and education in the rural areas.
The UN Report says in Education services only 3,2 million pupils, more than 600 000 teachers and other groups would require cash, while 2,14 million seriously need protection from the "authorities".
It said 1,68 million Zimbabweans were "insecure" as far as food security is concerned while 1,3 million refugees and migrants also seriously need funds from the international donor community.
The UN says revised requirements for Zimbabwe's humanitarian needs amount to US$488 582 358, an increase of US$73 306 618, over original requirements. This amounts to an increase of 18 percent.
Post published in: News