Humanitarian Effects

The macro-economic crisis has eroded incomes and purchasing power at household level, leaving families increasingly vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity. Basic food items such as bread, milk and sugar as well as maize-meal, are usually unavailable on the official market and prices are out of reach for the vulnerable in the informal market. A significant humanitarian effort has led to limited malnutrition rates of 5%, nationally. However, the prevalence of under weight-for-age at 17% and stunting at 26% point to a high level of vulnerability in the population. In fact while the severe malnutrition level is 1.4% nationally, the prevalence rate is 2% in 15 districts out of 58 nationally.

HIV/AIDS increases the prevalence of sickness, undercutting household productivity and absorbing scarce resources. The economic and HIV/AIDS factors are mutually reinforcing, each exacerbating the other with devastating effect on people's lives and livelihoods. This vicious circle is illustrated by a reported increase in transactional sex ('sex-for-food') as a dangerous survival strategy of last resort in the face of eroded household income and resources. The illness or death of an adult female threatens food security, often leading to the dissolution of the family. A survey carried out in two Zimbabwean districts in 2000 revealed that two-thirds of households that had lost a key adult female had disintegrated and dispersed.

While the crisis raises humanitarian risk generally among the population, it affects different groups specifically, generating fragmented vulnerabilities. The land reform programme, while having led to access to land to the landless, has also led to the serious loss of livelihoods of commercial farm workers. A number of sources estimate that almost 300,000 former commercial farm-workers have lost their livelihoods. In addition, over 85,000 former mine workers and other workers retrenched by a declining industrial sector, face real challenges as they eke out a living. Together with their families this group amounts to approximately 2 million people. Food security is seriously threatened and social services, particularly clinics, and schools are either absent or not functioning in many former commercial farming areas. However, humanitarian access to understand and respond to the needs of these populations has been difficult to negotiate and remains severely limited. Simultaneously, newly settled farmers and their families are also identified as being potentially vulnerable.

Population mobility often reflects and heightens vulnerability, including to HIV/AIDS. Rural to urban movement and migration to neighbouring countries is on the increase. The emigration of large numbers of professional, management and technical personnel further diminishes institutional capacity across the public and private sectors including social services, business and community organisations.

Human rights and humanitarian principles are also affected. The neutrality of humanitarian organisations, impartial needs-only-based delivery of assistance, and access to populations of humanitarian concern are vital issues. Other rights include, the rights of the child, the right to food, and the right to an adequate standard of living. These fundamental rights and the dignity of beneficiary populations require active protection by the Government and all other humanitarian stakeholders, all of whom engaged in two workshops to review humanitarian principles and their practice and the gender dimensions of humanitarian work in April 2003 and May 2003, respectively.

Approximately half the population of Zimbabwe is under 18 years of age. This group is already seriously affected by HIV/AIDS. Almost 800,000 children have already been orphaned by the pandemic, making them extremely vulnerable in terms of food security, protection of human rights, education and HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of wasting and stunting among the orphans is particularly high. The school environment is key to helping children not only acquire formal education but also in developing life skills, awareness raising, providing a protective environment, and acting as a hub for delivering assistance such as food and vaccines. Full vaccination coverage stands at 76% of children nationally, compared with an internationally recognised minimum standard of 95% . This highlights the importance of monitoring and responding to school dropout rates.

Geographically, the areas of Matebeleland North and South, and southern areas of Masvingo, Manicaland and Midlands have been hardest hit by the drought. As the crisis extends into a fifth year, vulnerability among urban populations also appears to be on the rise. This increase is attributed to the continued deterioration in economic activity and employment as coping strategies and resources reach exhaustion point in many households. It is reflected in the prevalence of 'hot spots' in wasting and stunting among the most vulnerable children, according to the UNICEF reports. Moreover, the patterns of family coping strategies, which previously involved a flow of support from urban to rural areas, now flow increasingly in the opposite direction. Urban populations are also particularly vulnerable to breakdowns in the public health, water and sanitation services. As these facilities are stretched further, outbreaks of water borne (e.g. cholera) and other infectious diseases are expected to increase, with particular effect on the very young, the old, and HIV positive.