Mberengwa, a community ravaged by floods, restored to sanity

Oxfarm in Zimbabwe has reported that above normal rainfall, worsened by the effects of tropical Cyclone Dineo in March 2017, resulted in severe flooding and loss of infrastructure, affecting 36 districts south of Zimbabwe with Mberengwa District among the hardest hit.

The organisation said the District was hit at a time when the community was still recovering from the devastating impacts of the recent El Nino induced drought that had left people with limited food and capacity to cope.

"Government of Zimbabwe declared the flood a national emergency and appealed for assistance to meet the immediate and long-term needs of affected communities. Houses, granaries, crops, livestock, national and basic infrastructure was destroyed. Families in some cases where forced to flee their homes to safer ground. Water points were either flooded or destroyed. According to the Department of Civil Protection rapid assessment, an estimated 100,000 people were left with no access to safe drinking water in the affected areas," reported Oxfam.

In response to the crisis Oxfam supported by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Affairs Operations (ECHO) was able to provide safe drinking water and raise awareness on good health and hygiene practices to over 12,320 households in 20 affected wards.

"To ensure rebuilding of destroyed houses and infrastructure, Oxfam made available to over 280 affected families unconditional multi-purpose cash assistance to meet household and any other emerging needs. Clean water is now flowing on once destroyed water points, The impact of a disaster that struck an unprepared community has been reduced through capacity building of communities on disaster risk management ensuring women's active participation in WASH, cash transfer and DRM interventions," said Oxfam.