Briefing by John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator on the Humanitarian Situation in Zimbabwe, 12 June 2008
Before the elections Zimbabwe was already facing a deep social and economic crisis, characterised by rapid economic decline and hyper-inflation of 170,000%, collapsing social services, food insecurity and the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Two million people are dependent on humanitarian assistance, and as many as four million are considered vulnerable and in need of help.
UN agencies and NGOs met with significant restrictions.
While UN agencies did not face the same range of problems, UN officials were informally told that some operations, particularly food distributions, should not e undertaken during the presidential run-off period. By 12 May, access problems had been reported by UN agencies and NGOs in 24 out of Zimbabwe's 81 districts.
The situation worsened further on 4 June,... directive instructing "all Private Voluntary Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations to suspend all field operations until further notice," on the ground that "a number of NGOs involved in humanitarian work are breaching the terms and conditions of their registration."
UN colleagues believe that our NGO partners were acting fully in line with the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
We estimate that two million people are directly affected by this decision. This includes as many as 500,000 children who are currently not receiving the health care, HIV/AIDS support, education assistance and food that they require. For example, one major programme for orphans coordinated by UNICEF - reaching 185,000 orphans through 25 NGOs - can no longer operate.
In a meeting in Harare, government officials indicated that they would clarify the directive, suggesting it might be somewhat relaxed and was indeed only temporary. They also made clear that the suspension did not apply to churches. We will continue to press for full unfettered access.
Indications are that this year's food situation will be even worse than last year, when 4.1 million people were in need of food aid. Initial indications from the joint FAO/WFP/Government Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission, concluded last month, suggest that the total cereal production this season will be about 470,000 metric tonnes - just 28 percent of the country's annual consumption of 1.9 million metric tonnes. This leaves a deficit of approximately 1.4 million metric tonnes. The Government has itself acknowledged that the 2008 agricultural season will be disappointing, and has suggested that up to 60% of the population would need food assistance.
Unless imports and international assistance are made available, households in urban areas and districts in the south and the west will face severe food access problems beginning this month, with similar shortages developing throughout the country in the following months.
It is my profound hope that the current suspension of NGO operations will indeed not extend beyond the current period in the run-up to the elections. Even the suspension of NGO field operations for three weeks has serious consequences. For example, all WFP food assistance distributed by NGO partners has ceased, preventing 314,000 of the most vulnerable people in the country from receiving food during the month of June. The suspension has also affected plans by a network of NGOs to feed an additional 300,000 people in June - leaving a total of 614,000 hungry.
The lack of food is bound to further aggravate health problems for these 614,000 people and lead to greater malnutrition.
I am particularly concerned by the plight of the 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS, of whom 100,000 are currently receiving anti-retroviral treatments.
In 2007, NGOs assisted 1.5 million people in the water and sanitation sector. some humanitarian partners have already had to reduce or stop all activities due to restricted access and intimidation. Between January and April this year, 982 cases of cholera were reported, with 129 deaths.
Since 29 March, the UN Country Team has continued to receive reports of widening politically motivated violence, with partners reporting incidents in 49 out of 81 districts (60%).
Acts of violence are reportedly perpetrated by security forces, youth militia, war veterans and supporters of both Zanu-PF and MDC. The political violence is leading to increased displacement and movement towards urban areas.
We are currently providing assistance to approximately 30,000 people who have been internally displaced due to violence. However, restrictions on movement make it impossible to estimate properly the number of those who have been displaced in the last few months.
While most of the Zimbabweans entering neighbouring countries do not seek protection as refugees, their movement cannot be characterised simply as "economic migration". UNHCR, for example, considers the latest movements to be forced displacement.
There are increasing reports of large groups, including entire families and elderly people, joining the exodus.
In November 2007, 42 UN agencies and NGOs appealed for US$317 million to provide urgently needed aid to the country in 2008. Halfway through 2008, the Appeal has been only 19% funded.
The situation in Zimbabwe is extremely difficult, from all points of view, and humanitarian agencies have little room in which to work at the best of times. I hope the Council will continue to urge all actors to take all possible measures to reduce the prevalence of violence, and in particular will urge the Government to rescind restrictions on the work of the NGO community.
I appeal to the Zimbabwe Government very strongly to rescind in particular the decision preventing the NGOs from operating as soon as possible and to remove all other restrictions too. This is not a political request. The issue is humanitarian.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs, South Africa
