CHIMANIMANI- Officials representing the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Chimanimani district authorities and representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) recently conducted a field visit to Chimanimani to assess project activities under the Enhancing Multi-Sectoral Assistance to Cyclone Idai Affected Populations in Zimbabwe project. The project supports communities through providing Camp Coordination and Camp Management services, strengthening Disaster Risk Management capacities of communities and District Civil Protection committees, tracking the mobility and vulnerabilities of populations affected by cyclone Idai and providing transitional shelter. In collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, the project is providing transitional shelters to 624 households affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts, Manicaland province.

The delegation was updated on the overall progress of project implementation and assessed Camp Coordination and Camp Management activities as well as the construction of transitional shelter in Chimanimani ward 13. The team also visited the West End relocation site. In addition, the visit provided the delegation and the local authorities the opportunity to discuss ways to improve service delivery for IDPs in camps and host communities and how best to operationalize the relocation strategy for IDPs in camps to West End Farm.  

During the visit, Director of USAID/BHA, Ms. Marialice Ariens spoke of the importance of collaboration between government and partners in bringing relief to these communities. “Lasting solutions to disasters like cyclone Idai can only be achieved when we draw equally from technical experience and local know-how to operationalize the holistic relocation strategy for IDPs in camps to West End Farm”, Ms. Ariens said. Speaking at the same occasion, IOM Zimbabwe Head of Programmes, Ana Medeiros thanked USAID/BHA for their support for the families devasted by cyclone Idai. “It is heartening to see IDP households affected by cyclone Idai receiving transitional shelters through funding support from USAID/BHA and at the same time receiving full support from Government at all levels enabling sustainable reintegration in accordance with durable solutions and African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa”, Medeiros said.