The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has activated its Disaster Response Teams in response to the floods that has affected and displaced many families around Zimbabwe. As a leading humanitarian and disaster relief orgnaisation, the National Society has since responded to flooding in Masvingo, Muzarabani, Gokwe and Tsholotsho. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society which is auxilliary to government and a member of the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) takes from the experiences of sister Red Cross Societies across the globe in its disaster response and management work.
The most affected is Masvingo where families around the Tokwe Murkosi area have since been moved to Chingwizi Transit Camp as they await alloacation of land for resettlement. Over 2514 households with an average 7 people per family have been affected and they are in urgent need of shelter, food relief and other necessities. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has responded by providing 150 family tents and 6000 tarpaulins for temporary shelter, mosquito nets, drilling 3 boreholes for safe water, setting up a temporary clinic for health care, availing temporary toilets, giving blankets and kitchen sets, food relief and pyschosocial support as well as volunteers who assist in coordinating the response and helping with shelter construction among other needs.
While the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society is encouraged by the support that has come from locals towards the floods, there is need for more resources towards long term assistance for the victims. The floods victims have been moved into an area with no infrastracture and there is need for meaningful support towards permanent structures for the victims to move on with their lives. Materials like corrugated iron sheets, poles, cement and asbestos among other basics like food and tents for temporary shelter are required. Other areas like Tsholotsho are equally affceted hence the call for more support.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Red Cross is calling for more coordination between governement and all stakeholders involved in the response so that whatever looming crisis situation that will reflect badly on the nation's coping mechanisms is averted. All Zimbabweans must take up the challenge and complement efforts by governement and other humanitarian players in addressing the situation.