Heavy rains accompanied by hailstorms reported between 3 and 22 April 2013 caused three deaths, some injuries and extensive damage to property, livestock and crops in Chiredzi, Gwanda, Mangwe, Marange, Mberengwa, Muzarabani and Mwenezi districts.
Most of the storms occurred on 20 and 21 April, except in Mberengwa and Gwanda which happened on 3 April. Assessments so far indicate that about 2,000 households were affected.
Partners, working with district Civil Protection Committees (CPC), conducted assessments and verification exercises in the six affected districts and by 30 April, had established that about 1,861 house- holds comprising an estimated 9,305 people needed assistance. Of these, 880 households were in most critical need.
The partners, working with the Department of Civil Protection (DCP), responded immediately by providing medical assistance for the injured and emergency shelter and non-food items (NFI) for those whose homes were damaged. The DCP and partners then met on 29 and 30 April to consolidate the response and gaps by sharing updates on assessments, response activities and common resources available.
DCP has further requested funds from the Ministry of Finance as during such times, affected households receive cash disbursements of up to $200 for the purchase of critical items. With the indicated number of households, it is anticipated that about $40,000 will be required. There is also need for a one off supply of food to affected households since most of them had their crops and grain storages completely destroyed. DCP is following up with the Ministry of Labour and Social Services on the provision of food assistance to affected households.
The Meteorological Department has also visited all affected areas in order to understand the weather patterns of the storms, which are not a usual occurrence at this time of the year. DCP acknowledged the information provided by partners as a good starting point in building baseline information for updating the Flood Mitigation Guidelines which will be developed later in the year. Meanwhile, a strategic planning team comprising DCP, WFP, UNICEF, IOM and OCHA was set up in April to support the DCP to build a contingency stock for flood affected households.
Provincial Updates
Masvingo
One person died and 63 people were injured in Mwenezi district following hailstorms. According to IOM altogether 877 households in Masvingo had their homes destroyed, of whom 800 were in Mwenezi and 77 in Chiredzi.
Infrastructure at eight schools and three clinics in Mwenezi and four schools, a clinic and a training centre in Chiredzi was also destroyed.
IOM assisted households in Mwenezi with NFIs and tarpaulins, while the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society assisted the 77 households in Chiredzi. The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) mobilized financial resources from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) in delivering immediate assistance to 700 house- holds in the affected districts. By 30 April, 575 shelter kits and 125 tents had been distributed in Chiredzi district.
ACF, through the Environmental Health Alliance (EHA) structure, distributed about 1,000 hygiene kits, including point of use water treatment and jerry cans, in addition to health and hygiene education. Plan International is sourcing funds for the rehabilitation of schools that were damaged in both districts.
However, by 30 April 400 families in Mwenezi and 63 in Chiredzi were still in need of blankets.
Midlands
Mberengwa district was the first to be hit by storms. Two children died and seven people were injured while 480 homes were destroyed.
As of 30 April, the injured were still admitted at Claybank Hospital in Gweru, while construction of emergency shelter is in progress. Save the Children has sourced $50,000 for the district and focus will be on provision of food, psycho-social support and disaster risk reduction (DRR) training. World Vision, through the EHA structure, distributed hygiene kits to affected communities.
Oxfam conducted a WASH assessment in the affected wards and findings indicate that while no water points were directly affected by the storms, most had been either vandalized or broken down with only six that could be rehabilitated. The assessment also established that communities were accessing water from a nearby river and no water purification tablets had been distributed. Activities to be conducted include hygiene promotion and advocacy for funds to rehabilitate the non-functional water points.
Matebeleland South
Sixteen people were injured while 475 households were affected, of whom whom 55 were in Matobo, 320 in Mangwe and 100 in Gwanda districts.
Infrastructure at two schools in Mangwe and two schools and a hospital in Matobo was destroyed.
The injured received treatment and all affected households in Matobo and Gwanda had been assisted by 30 April, while 100 had been covered in Mangwe, leaving 220 in need of NFIs.
Manicaland
Twenty households in Marange district were affected. The IOM office in Mutare is responding.
Mashonaland Central
Nine households in Muzarabani district were affected and in need of NFIs.
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society indicated that it would provide assistance to the affected families.
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