By Takemore Mazuruse
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has called for support towards its ongoing response to the nationwide storm disasters and flooding as well as the Chitungwiza blast that has claimed over 15 lives to date. The storm disasters and flooding in particular have destroyed homes and killed more than 10 people, destroyed and contaminated water sources at the same time affecting food stocks and crops in the field.
Mr Desmond Mudombi who is the organisation's National Disaster Management Coordinator said it was imperative that all partners and stakeholders of the organisation come on board and help lessen the burden as well as minimise the suffering of the affected communities. "As a disaster relief organisation and a member of the government mandated Civil Protection Unit (CPU), the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has assisted the affected communities by availing tents for temporary shelter, blankets, buckets for safe water storage, water tablets for water treatment, tarpaulins. polythene plastics for construction of temporary latrines, soap and jik as well as food packs in some instances. However, our supplies are not adequate given the swelling numbers of targeted beneficiaries and we call on our traditional partners, Corporates, individual philanthropists and members of the public to join us in our disaster response drive."
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has also responded to the Chitungwiza blast which claimed 6 lives and destroyed 3 houses completely. A number of houses in the vicinity of the blast incident have also been adversely affected and the victims are also calling for support. While Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has provided the required shelter and other pressing emergent needs of the affected, a lot more needs to be done towards construction of permanent structures for accommodation, counseling the victims and survivors as well as ascertaining proper sanitation and provision of safe water. Zimbabwe Red Cross Society also received some food items from the Chitungwiza Pastors' Fraternity which its has since handed to the victims through the District Administrator's office and it is appealing for more partners to come on board.
Of the storm disasters and flooding, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society's Disaster Management department said a number of provinces require support according to information gathered from the Provincial structures and Disaster Response Action Teams on the ground. "The main provinces requiring assistance are Matebeleland North, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Midlands. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has responded in Masvingo's Zaka East and West, Bikita, Chivi and Chiredzi districts while in Manicaland the response teams have covered Nyanga, Chipinge, Chibuwe, Checheche and Kondo. In Matebeleland North, response has reached Tsholotsho and Red Cross volunteers continue to monitor the situaion. In Mashonaland Central, the Muzarabani and Mt Darwin areas are covered and continue to be surveiled while in Matebeleland South the teams have covered Beitbridge.
Mr Mudombi highlighted that the mentioned areas are the most problematic as of now but other isolated incidences across Zimbabwe have also been responded to in provinces like Midlands where a number of cases were reported in Gokwe. Relief items have also been provided in Mashonaland West where calls are being made for food packs and tents to shelter the affected victims.
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Secretary General Mr Maxwell Phiri said it was imperative that outside the partner support the organisation may get, local Zimbabweans must also awaken to the challenge and help curtail the crisis. "I believe there is a lot more that local Zimbabweans can do in supporting our response to the current challenge of the storm disasters and flooding as well as other unforeseen disasters of the future. There is never too small an effort in humanitarian work and we call on everyone to play the part. The dollar or kg of maize meal you donate to the Red Cross will help save a fellow Zimbabwean."