Women, children dominate returnee influx

Women and children make up 70% of nearly 100,000 Zimbabweans who have returned from South Africa since April, exposing mounting humanitarian pressures at the Beitbridge Reception Centre, according to a new report by the International Medical Corps.

The organisation's Zimbabwean Returnee Influx Situation Report #1, released on July 15, says the surge in returnees has been driven by escalating anti-migrant sentiment and incidents of violence in South Africa, leaving thousands of Zimbabweans displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

According to the report, many returnees fled after experiencing harassment, forced evictions, violence, detention and the loss of livelihoods.

The influx has placed significant strain on reception facilities at Beitbridge, where authorities and humanitarian organisations are battling overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and growing protection concerns.

The International Medical Corps said accommodation at the reception centre had been overwhelmed by the volume of arrivals, resulting in severe congestion.

The organisation warned that poor infrastructure, particularly inadequate lighting, has heightened protection risks for women and girls.

"Inadequate lighting continues to heighten risks concerning violence against women and girls, and protection," the report said.

The sanitation situation has also become critical, with only 30 toilets available—about half the number required to adequately serve the population at the centre.

The shortage has reportedly contributed to open defecation, increasing public health risks while forcing women and girls to seek privacy in isolated, poorly lit areas.

"Poor lighting around sanitation areas further increases both public health and protection risks," the report noted.

Health services are also coming under increasing pressure as arrivals continue.

Beyond treating respiratory illnesses, dehydration and musculoskeletal injuries, aid organisations say there is a growing need for mental health and psychosocial support for returnees who experienced trauma during their displacement.

The report further highlights challenges facing families who lost identity documents while fleeing South Africa.

Without official documentation, many returnees may struggle to access education, healthcare and other public services needed to rebuild their lives.

The humanitarian situation is particularly acute for children, with eight unaccompanied minors identified at the reception centre who require family tracing and reunification.

According to the report, more than 20,000 Zimbabweans remain at diplomatic missions and assembly points in South Africa awaiting transportation assistance to return home.

The International Medical Corps is leading interventions in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) at the border.

To date, the organisation says it has provided safe drinking water to 15,792 returnees, rehabilitated two ablution blocks, installed five mobile toilets and erected two high-capacity floodlights to improve security at the reception centre.

However, it said additional sanitation facilities and resources remain urgently needed.

While the government continues to provide three meals a day to returnees, humanitarian agencies warn that food supplies, healthcare, sanitation and transportation systems will remain under severe pressure if arrivals continue at the current pace.

"The humanitarian situation remains fluid," the report said, warning that continued pressure on reception capacity, health services, water and sanitation infrastructure, and transport systems is likely unless additional resources are mobilised.