Cablegate: Zimbabwe Flooding Disaster Situation Report

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

131248Z Apr 00

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1522

PAGE 01 HARARE 02021 01 OF 03 131243Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
EB-00 EUR-01 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 IO-00 MMP-00
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 PMB-00
PRM-01 SAS-00 /006W
------------------4B46E4 131244Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5738
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY GABORONE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD// PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY ROME
DIA WASHINGTON DC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 002021

SIPDIS

AIDAC

USAID/W FOR BHR/OFDA FOR B. SANDFORD, M. ROGERS;
BHR/FFP FOR C.W.T. HAGELMAN3, B. VOGLER; AFR/SD FOR W.
WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR N. NEWMAN, C. REINTSMA, W. JEFFERS,
M. SCOVILL; STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND GURNEY; NAIROBI
FOR BHR/OFDA/ARO K. SMITH, G. GOTTLIEB; MAPUTO FOR
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 02021 01 OF 03 131243Z
OFDA/DART H. CARLSON, E. JACKSON; GABORONE FOR RCSA, R
MORTON; GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO UNOCHA, IFRC; ROME PLEASE
PASS TO FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE FLOODING DISASTER SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) NO. 6

REFS: (A) HARARE 1901, (B) HARARE 1730,

C) HARARE 1588, (D) HARARE 1570,
E) HARARE 1295, (F) HARARE 1162, (G) HARARE 1083

1. SUMMARY: ON APRIL 6, MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICER (MDRO)
ATTENDED A THIRD GOVERNMENT-DONOR MEETING ON THE FLOODING
DISASTER CHAIRED JOINTLY BY UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
RESREP) C. LOPES AND MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL
HOUSING (MLGNH - PARENT MINISTRY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
PROTECTION) PERMANENT SECRETARY (PERMSEC) F. MUNYIRA. AT
THE MEETING, SEVERAL SPEAKERS PRESENTED UPDATES ON THE
CURRENT SITUATION WITHIN THE AFFECTED AREAS, THE COLLECTIVE
RESPONSE TO DATE, REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT,
AND CURRENT AND FUTURE RESPONSE ACTIVITIES AND PRIORITIES.
EACH OF THESE SUBJECTS IS COVERED BRIEFLY IN THE FOLLOWING
SECTIONS, TOGETHER WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THE
MISSION HAS RECEIVED SEPARATELY ON THIS SUBJECT. MOST OF
THIS INFORMATION IS DOCUMENTED IN SEVERAL HANDOUTS PROVIDED
AT THE MEETING WHICH HAVE BEEN FORWARDED DIRECTLY BACK TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. (C/O N. NEWMAN, USAID/ZIMBABWE DESK OFFICER
AT USAID/AFR/SA).
END SUMMARY.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 02021 01 OF 03 131243Z

THIRD DONOR MEETING

2. ON APRIL 6, MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICER ATTENDED
THIRD GOVERNMENT-DONOR MEETING ON THE FLOODING DISASTER
CHAIRED JOINTLY BY UNDP RESREP LOPES AND MLGNH PERMSEC
MUNYIRA. AT THE MEETING, SEVERAL SPEAKERS PRESENTED UPDATES
ON THE CURRENT SITUATION WITHIN THE AFFECTED AREAS, THE
COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO DATE, REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS ON THIS
SUBJECT, AND CURRENT AND FUTURE RESPONSE ACTIVITIES AND
PRIORITIES. EACH OF THESE SUBJECTS IS COVERED BRIEFLY IN
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS, TOGETHER WITH SOME ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION THE MISSION HAS RECEIVED SEPARATELY ON THIS
SUBJECT.

DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS

3. PERMSEC MUNYIRA STARTED THE MEETING BY EXTENDING THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE'S (GOZ'S) APPRECIATION FOR THE
"TREMENDOUS" RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER TO DATE FROM
INTERNATIONAL, BILATERAL AS WELL AS LOCAL SOURCES.
HANDOUTS PROVIDED AT THE MEETING (FORWARDED TO WASHINGTON,
D.C.) INDICATE THAT FORMAL DONOR COMMITMENTS TO DATE TOTAL
SOME US$4 MILLION, INCLUDING US$1.1 MILLION FOR THE U.N.
APPEAL (DISCUSSED REF. E AND PARA 14. BELOW).

4. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY
NOTED AT THE MEETING, INCLUDING:

-USAID'S PLANNED US$144,000 GRANT TO CATHOLIC RELIEF
SERVICES (CRS) FOR THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY RELIEF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 HARARE 02021 01 OF 03 131243Z
COMMODITIES TO 15,000 PEOPLE IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS OF
MANICALAND PROVINCE (SEE REF. B);

-AN ADDITIONAL US$120,000 FROM THE SWEDISH INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SIDA) FOR COMMODITY SUPPORT FOR CHIREDZI
AND MATOPO DISTRICTS;

-US$142,105 FROM CHRISTIAN CARE FOR ANTI-MALARIAL DRUGS, AND
FOOD AND SHELTER IN MWENEZI DISTRICT;

-US$25,000 FROM OED (AUSTRIAN AID) FOR UNSPECIFIED
ASSISTANCE TO CHIMANIMANI DISTRICT.

NOTE: ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL PLEDGES ARE REFLECTED IN AN
UPDATED DONOR FUNDING TABLE RECEIVED ON APRIL 11, WHICH
BRINGS THE TOTAL FORMAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE TO
APPROXIMATELY US$4.5 MILLI
ON. END NOTE.

-IN ADDITION, THE DANISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
(DANIDA) ANNOUNCED UNSPECIFIED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR WHO,

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1524

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ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
EB-00 EUR-01 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 IO-00 MMP-00
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 PMB-00
PRM-01 SAS-00 /006W
------------------4B46F8 131244Z /38
P 131248Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5739
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY GABORONE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD// PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY ROME
DIA WASHINGTON DC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 002021

SIPDIS

AIDAC

USAID/W FOR BHR/OFDA FOR B. SANDFORD, M. ROGERS;
BHR/FFP FOR C.W.T. HAGELMAN3, B. VOGLER; AFR/SD FOR W.
WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR N. NEWMAN, C. REINTSMA, W. JEFFERS,
M. SCOVILL; STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND GURNEY; NAIROBI
FOR BHR/OFDA/ARO K. SMITH, G. GOTTLIEB; MAPUTO FOR
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 02021 02 OF 03 131244Z
OFDA/DART H. CARLSON, E. JACKSON; GABORONE FOR RCSA, R
MORTON; GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO UNOCHA, IFRC; ROME PLEASE
PASS TO FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE FLOODING DISASTER SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) NO. 6

CRS AND THE RED CROSS (C/O THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF
RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES).

-FINALLY, THE WORLD BANK (WB) ANNOUNCED AN UNSPECIFIED
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR TRANSPORT (ROAD/BRIDGE)
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS, BY RE-PROGRAMMING FUNDS FROM A
RECENTLY APPROVED WB ROADS PROJECT. THE WB INDICATED THAT
THEY WOULD SOON BE ISSUING TENDERS TO START THE REQUIRED
REPAIR WORKS. NOTE: OTHER DONORS (E.G., SIDA) ALSO
EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO RE-PROGRAM EXISTING PROJECT FUNDS
FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE IN SUCH AREAS AS HEALTH (CLINIC
REHABILITATION), EDUCATION (SCHOOL REHABILITATION) AND
DISTRICT-LEVEL CAPACITY-BUILDING, REQUESTING TIMELY GOZ
COOPERATION TO FACILITATE THE REQUIRED RE-PROGRAMMING WORK.
END NOTE.

5. THE TOTAL LEVEL OF INFORMAL (I.E., LOCAL, NON-
GOVERNMENTAL) CONTRIBUTIONS REMAINS LESS CLEAR. PERMSEC
MUNYIRA QUOTED A FIGURE OF Z$20 MILLION (US$250,000) IN
LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE, INCLUDING ABOUT ZW$8.4 MILLION
(US$212,000) IN CASH; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED THAT THIS FIGURE
WAS PROBABLY NOT COMPLETE. NOTE: THE US$4 MILLION FIGURE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 02021 02 OF 03 131244Z
CITED ABOVE INCLUDES SOME, BUT PROBABLY NOT ALL, OF THE NGO
AND RED CROSS FUNDING TO DATE. END NOTE.

IMPACT UPDATE

6. DURING A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF IMPACTS FROM THE DISASTER,
PERMSEC MUNYIRA CONFIRMED THAT THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL FROM
THE FLOODING HAD NOW RISEN TO 119 PERSONS. ALL OTHER
PEOPLE-LEVEL IMPACT FIGURES REMAIN UNCHANGED (SEE REFTELS).

7. MUNYIRA ALSO INDICATED THAT THE GOZ CIVIL PROTECTION
DEPARTMENT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A SYSTEMATIC
ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES BY SECTOR AND "PLANNING THE WAY
FORWARD". ALLUDING TO THE DRAFT REPORT PROVIDED IN SITREP
NO. 5 (REF. A), HE CITED A TOTAL FIGURE OF ABOUT ZW$1.1

BILLION (US$27.5 MILLION) IN INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGES ASSESSED
TO DATE.

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE URBAN COUNCILS
ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE INDICATES ZW$314, 480,000 (US$7.8
MILLION) IN DAMAGES TO MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE (E.G.,
ROADS, SEWERAGE, WASTE DISPOSAL, WATER SUPPLY AND PUBLIC
LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND SERVICES). THIS NEW INFORMATION ON
MUNICIPAL IMPACTS HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED.

9. THE MISSION HAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE GOZ MINISTRY OF
RURAL RESOURCES AND WATER DEVELOPMENT A SEPARATE LIST OF
SOME 21 MAJOR DAMS DAMAGED BY THE FLOODS, TOTALING SOME
ZW$67.8 MILLION (US$1.7 MILLION) IN REPAIR COSTS. NOTE:
THIS LIST DOES NOT/NOT INCLUDE SMALLER LOCAL/RURAL DAMS
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 HARARE 02021 02 OF 03 131244Z
ADMINISTERED UNDER THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUND. END NOTE.

10. ALTHOUGH FOLLOW-ON HEALTH RISKS REMAIN HIGH, NO MAJOR
DISEASE OUTBREAKS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE AFFECTED AREAS
TO DATE.

11. ADDITIONAL UPDATED IMPACT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION (E.G.,
FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL, FOOD SECURITY, UTILITIES, ETC.) IS
DOCUMENTED IN THE SEVERAL REPORTS DISTRIBUTED AT THE MEETING
(WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET FORWARDED TO WASHINGTON,
D.C.) .

REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS

12. PERMSEC MUNYIRA ALSO TOUCHED ON REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS
UNDERWAY REGARDING THE DISASTER WITH NEIGHBORS BOTSWANA,
SOUTH AFRICA AND MOZAMBIQUE. NOTE: MUNYIRA NOTED THAT IT
WAS EXPECTED THAT OTHER SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY (SADC) COUNTRIES WOULD BE JOINING THESE
DISCUSSIONS SOON FOR A GREATER REGIONAL APPROACH TOWARDS
THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. END NOTE. PRIMARY AREAS OF REGIONAL

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1526

PAGE 01 HARARE 02021 03 OF 03 131244Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
EB-00 EUR-01 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 IO-00 MMP-00
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PM-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 PMB-00
PRM-01 SAS-00 /006W
------------------4B4705 131244Z /38
P 131248Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5740
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY GABORONE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO PRIORITY
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD// PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY ROME
DIA WASHINGTON DC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 002021

SIPDIS

AIDAC

USAID/W FOR BHR/OFDA FOR B. SANDFORD, M. ROGERS;
BHR/FFP FOR C.W.T. HAGELMAN3, B. VOGLER; AFR/SD FOR W.
WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR N. NEWMAN, C. REINTSMA, W. JEFFERS,
M. SCOVILL; STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND GURNEY; NAIROBI
FOR BHR/OFDA/ARO K. SMITH, G. GOTTLIEB; MAPUTO FOR
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 02021 03 OF 03 131244Z
OFDA/DART H. CARLSON, E. JACKSON; GABORONE FOR RCSA, R
MORTON; GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO UNOCHA, IFRC; ROME PLEASE
PASS TO FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE FLOODING DISASTER SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) NO. 6

COOPERATION TO DATE INCLUDE DEFENSE, HEALTH AND
CUSTOMS/BORDER RESTRICTIONS. MUNYIRA INDICATED THAT MLGNH
MINISTER J. NKOMO WAS IN CAPE TOWN (APRIL 6) TO DISCUSS
FUTURE DISASTER PLANNING, PREPAREDNESS AND CONTINUING
REGIONAL COOPERATION, INCLUDING PLANS TO ESTABLISH A NEW
LONG-TERM SADC DISASTER MANAGEMENT UNIT.

13. PERMSEC MUNYIRA ALSO NOTED THAT A RECENT MEETING OF
PROVINCIAL-LEVEL CIVIL PROTECTION STAFF INDICATED THE NEED
FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT (DOLLARS,
STAFF, VEHICLES, ETC.) AND IMPROVED LOCAL-L
EVEL COORDINATION
(MORE BELOW).

CURRENT PRIORITIES

14. A. L. THON, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NEWLY FORMED NGO
LIAISON COMMITTEE ON DISASTERS (NLCD) - COMPRISING SOME 50
NGOS INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSE EFFORT - STATED THAT THE MOST
NOTEWORTHY ASPECT OF THIS DISASTER WAS THE EXTENT TO WHICH
ZIMBABWEANS WERE HELPING EACH OTHER AND THEMSELVES. IN
THIS INTEREST, SHE CITED THE LOCAL PEOPLE, THE COMMERCIAL
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 02021 03 OF 03 131244Z
FARMERS UNION, DISTRICT CIVIL PROTECTION UNITS AND THE
ZIMBABWE RED CROSS AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESPONSE
ORGANIZATIONS TO DATE. SHE ALSO INDICATED A NEW ALERT IN
PREVIOUSLY OVERLOOKED PLUMTREE (BULILIAMANGWE DISTRICT IN
MATEBELELAND NORTH PROVINCE) DUE TO CONTINUED RAINS AND
WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION IN THE AREA. THON STATED THAT NGO
PRIORITIES WERE NOW SHIFTING TO RECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES,
PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF PRIORITY NEEDS BY SECTOR (REFERRING
TO AN NLCD REPORT PROVIDED AT THE MEETING WHICH WAS ALSO
INCLUDED IN THE PACKET FORWARDED TO WASHINGTON, D.C.). SHE
ALSO INDICATED THAT DISCUSSIONS WERE UNDERWAY REGARDING THE
NEED FOR NEW DISASTER MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION FOR ZIMBABWE.

15. UNDP RESREP LOPES ALSO PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE
CURRENT SITUATION REFERRING TO TWO U.N. REPORTS PROVIDED AT
THE MEETING (ALSO INCLUDED IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. PACKET).
HE INDICATED CURRENT RESPONSE PRIORITIES OF: 1) URGENT
RECONSTRUCTION REPAIRS (TO RE-ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO
ALL AFFECTED AREAS); 2) SCHOOL AND CLINIC REPAIRS (THE
IMPACT ON SCHOOLS WAS GREATER THAN INITIALLY ASSESSED); AND
3) DISTRICT-LEVEL CAPACITY-ENHANCING ASSISTANCE (E.G.,
VEHICLES, COMPUTERS, STAFF RESOURCES, ETC.) FOR CRITICAL
LOCAL-LEVEL INFORMATION GATHERING AND COORDINATION
ACTIVITIES. HE ALSO ENDORSED THE GENERALLY AGREED
CONTENTION THAT MORE GENERAL RESPONSE PRIORITIES HAD NOW
SHIFTED TO RECONSTRUCTION TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO RE-ESTABLISH
THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.

16. IN REVIEWING THE DONOR FIGURES AVAILABLE TO DATE, RESREP
LOPES ALSO INDICATED THAT THE U.N. HAD REVISED THEIR
ORIGINAL APPEAL UPWARDS FROM US$3 MILLION TO US$4.8 MILLION
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 HARARE 02021 03 OF 03 131244Z
BASED ON UPDATED INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE FIELD. HE
FURTHER INDICATED THAT THE U.N. WOULD BE ISSUING A REVISED
FORMAL APPEAL SHORTLY, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY EXCEED THIS
INCREASED $4.8 MILLION REQUEST.

17. RESREP LOPES ALSO INDICATED THAT A MAJOR ASSESSMENT WAS
NOW UNDERWAY IN THE AFFFECTED AREAS, CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY
THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

(FAO), FAMINE EARLY WARNING SERVICE (FEWS), AND GOZ
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
(AGRITEX) STAFF, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE DEFINITIVE INFORMATION
ON AGRICULTURAL AND CROP IMPACTS, AND AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD
SECURITY NEEDS WHEN COMPLETED THIS WEEK.

18. THE MISSION WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS
SUBJECT AS/WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
MCDONALD

UNCLASSIFIED

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