OCHA Situation Report
Zimbabwe: Floods
14 December 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Average rainfall amounts exceeded 100mm in the last 48 hours, 
(Meteorological Services Department) Floods displace 150 people to high 
ground, render nine villages inaccessible in Muzarabani, (Police) Food 
and other assistance required immediately for over 150 people (Civil 
Protection Unit)

SITUATION

According to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), flooding started affecting 
people in the Muzarabani (Zambezi Valley) area yesterday.

At least three major bridges have been swept away leaving over nine 
villages inaccessible.

150 people have reportedly been displaced by the floods, which also 
destroyed some shelters. The people have congregated at Chadereka School 
in the area.

The Meteorological Services Department has reported that north and 
eastern parts of Zimbabwe, especially areas along the main watershed 
zone recorded average rainfall amounts in excess of 100mm within the 
last 48 hours, with torrential rains continuing for over a week now. The 
rains are likely to persist beyond Christmas Day, 25 December 2007. They 
result from an organized cloud formation stretching from the Democratic 
Republic of Congo and covering Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, into the 
Indian Ocean.

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is closely monitoring 
river levels, which the authority says have been rising significantly 
especially during and soon after heavy down pours of rains in the major 
catchments like Zambezi, Mazowe, Sanyati and Save. Although the Cahora 
Bassa Dam in Mozambique and national dams are still absorbing most of 
the river discharge from Zimbabwe, the steadily rising river levels are 
indicative of the likelihood of worsening flooding.

ZINWA also warned that if the rains continue across the country, areas 
with few dams like Tsholotsho may experience flash floods due to excess 
run-off.

NEEDS

About 150 people that have gathered on high ground at Chadereka school 
and CPU says they urgently need;
- food rations,
- tents,
- cooking utensils

The Civil Protection Unit called upon members of the humanitarian 
community to be ready to assist.

RESPONSE

Today, 14 December 2007 CPU called a meeting which was attended by 
officials from police, air force, other government departments, ZINWA, 
Meteorological Services Department, Red Cross, ECHO and OCHA to exchange 
information and plan on next steps.

Air force, police and Mashonaland Central provincial authorities will 
fly to Muzarabani this afternoon to assess the situation on the ground.

The police have set up two information centres to communicate with 
Muzarabani through their radio network.

No humanitarian assistance has been received so far.

A standby committee comprising of members from CPU, police, air force, 
ZINWA, Meteorological Services Department, CMED, Red Cross, ECHO and 
OCHA has been set up to manage the floods.

In the meantime OCHA has contacted IFRC and Zimbabwe Red Cross (who have 
presence in the area) who have committed to provide blankets, kitchen 
utensils and water purification tablets to cater for the 30 affected 
families.

RECOMMENDATION

OCHA will closely monitor the situation in collaboration with the 
standby committee of the CPU. As it stands, the government is also 
working towards assisting the 30 families currently affected. In the 
event of the situation worsening, OCHA will call for a rapid 
inter-agency assessment.

CONTACT

Muktar Farah, OCHA Head a.i. Cell: +26311617734 or Clever Maputseni, 
Information Officer, Cell: +26311617734

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