Tropical Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe

Situation overview
At least 172 deaths have been reported and 327 people are reportedly missing in Zimbabwe following flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai’s trajectory, according to the Ministry for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting. The death toll is expected to rise as areas previously cut-off become reachable by road and the full extent of the damage becomes known. Nearly 4,500 people are displaced, according to the Government. About 16,000 households are in need of shelter assistance in Chimanimani (8,000 households), Chipinge (3,000 households), Buhera (1,000 households) and Mutare (4,000 households). Chimanimani and Chipinge are the hardest-hit districts and remains inaccessible with an estimated 250,000 people impacted, according to the preliminary findings of an inter-sector assessment mission which confirmed significant damage. At least 35,000 households - with over 120,000 women and over 60,000 children - are in urgent need of protection interventions in the two assessed districts. Although not as badly hit, the districts of Buhera, Bikita, Chikomba, Gutu, Mutasa and Mutare have also sustained damage and many people have reportedly been displaced with at least 50,000 households affected. Crops and livestock have been destroyed in all affected areas, which were already facing rising food insecurity. In Chimanimani, access to clean water remains a key challenge with urban areas still cut-off from water supply due to badly damaged infrastructure. Damage to road infrastructure has cut people off from access to assistance and services in multiple locations, with bridges reportedly damaged at Hmandarume, Matsororo, Mvumvumvu, Biriri, Muusha Primary School and Nyahode. Some 95 per cent of the road networks in the affected areas have been damaged, according to government reports Both Chimanimani and Chipinge were classified in Crisis (IPC phase 3) and Buheira was facing Emergency food insecurity (IPC phase 4) prior to this new loss of crops caused by the Cyclone Idai weather system. The displacement of people, together with damaged water supply infrastructure, heightens the risk of malaria, cholera and other diarrheal diseases and the potential for a communicable disease outbreak. The country is facing an outbreak of cholera and typhoid since September 2018. For an overview of satellite images please visit https://gdacs-smcs.unosat.org/events/102	Maps Zimbabwe Displacement Map Provider:IOM
Operational Response
The Government-led response is being coordinated by the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) through the National, Provincial and District Civil Protection Committees, with support from humanitarian partners. Relief trucks carrying shelter, non-food items and WASH supplies have arrived, and distribution is underway in Mutare. The Government is in the process of establishing a logistics hub close to areas most impacted by the storm. Air support (helicopters) is being ramped up and the UN Humanitarian Air Service will deploy one helicopter. The police sub-aqua unit has been deployed and access is beginning to open-up to areas that have been isolated and cut-off for days. Command centres have been established at Mhandarume centre for people rescued in Chimanimani and at Christine school for people affected by flooding and landslides in Rusitu area. OCHA ROSEA has a Stand-By Partner on the ground and is deploying additional capacity on 23rd March to incorporate needs generated by the floods and assist in deep field coordination in affected areas. The Regional Office is deploying two Humanitarian Affairs Officers (one in Harare and one in the field) and one Information Management Officer, bringing OCHA’s total capacity in-country to four staff for the immediate response. To reach ROSEA team in country please contact: Patrick Phipps (HAO, OCHA Zimbabwe) Office: +263(0242)338836-44\| Mobile: +263774804805 patrick.phipps@un.org The Logistics Cluster is establishing a logistics hub in Mutare where a UN helicopter will deploy and storage for relief supplies will be provided. IOM is supporting the Chimanimani district civil protection to establish temporary collective sites for displaced people at Wengezi, Skyline and Ngangu, dispatching 1,000 tarpaulins and 200 non-food item kits for the initial response in Manicaland. Three engineering companies deployed equipment to Tangana on 18 March and have started work on roads in collaboration with local authorities.