‘Cyclone Idai victims in temporary shelters vulnerable’

FAMILIES in Manicaland who were affected by Cyclone Idai and are still housed in temporary shelters risk being affected again by rainfall this summer season, an official has said.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa ( ECA) and its partners the Department for International Development (DFID) and United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office convened a workshop for Sadc to formulate actionable strategies for climate resilient reconstruction of infrastructure post-Cyclone Idai in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe which was held last week.

Speaking after the workshop on Friday, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement director in the climate department, Mr Washington Zhakata said people who are still living in temporary shelters after being affected by Cyclone Idai are most likely to be affected again if resources are not organised before the rains start.

“Zimbabwe appealed for US$613 million in aid from both local and foreign donors and about $300 million in food aid which has been trickling in but it is not sufficient because some communities in the Eastern Highlands still live in temporary shelters which makes them vulnerable,” said Mr Zhakata.

“So there is a need to expedite resource mobilisation to ensure that we assist those communities as was discussed under a concept called Building Back Better which pays attention to improving resilience through improved weather and climate forecasting.”

He said the workshop came at a time when the Government is making efforts to mainstream climate change in development planning.

“This workshop came at the right time when natural disasters are already keeping our countries in poverty through direct and indirect loss of infrastructure as well as livelihoods which is a trend that is derailing our thrust to accomplish our sustainable development goals and it also comes at the opportune time when Government is working on ensuring that devolution mainstreams issues of climate change in development planning,” said Mr Zhakata.

He said the workshop assessed what happened during Cyclone Idai and how best the region could be prepared for future disasters. He also said there is a need to build infrastructure that can withstand violent winds which has been done in countries such as Mauritius.

Earlier this year Zimbabwe received a grant of US$100 000 from the Swiss Development Co-operation through the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the development of a National Climate Change Learning Strategy which will go a long way in educating and preparing society for future disasters.

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