The Emergency: A shortage of food and the spread of disease continue to threaten the lives and well-being of children and their families in Zimbabwe. Nearly half the population – about 5 million people – is in need of food aid, yet the World Food Program reports that it has only around half the amount of food it needs. Basic services and the health care system have collapsed, and the country is now experiencing a growing cholera problem, with more than 21,000 cases reported and thousands dead.

Many Zimbabwean children lack access to basic education, health care and daily essentials for survival.

The Impact on Children: The situation for children in Zimbabwe – nearly one-third of whom already are malnourished – is deteriorating.  Acute child malnutrition in parts of the country has increased by almost two-thirds in the last year. In addition, many Zimbabwean children lack access to basic education, health care and daily essentials for survival.  Compounding the risk is a recent outbreak of anthrax in the country's northern Zambezi Valley. The disease has killed seven people in Binga district, and is threatening the region's livestock, which will further limit parents' ability to feed their children.

Save the Children's Response: Save the Children, which has worked in Zimbabwe for nearly 25 years, is moving rapidly to reach vulnerable children and families. Existing nutrition, food and other programs have been expanded to reach an estimated 294,000 people, including 150,000 children. Food assistance is being provided to more than 200,000 people and families and Save the Children is enabling families to prepare for the future by distributing seeds and small livestock, and helping to set up vegetable gardens.  In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Save the Children is providing drugs to treat cholera and educating communities on how to avoid infection, as well as providing food so that safe cholera treatment camps can be set up to prevent further contamination.

Save the Children needs your support to help us reach the most critical needs of children and families affected by the food shortages and the spread of disease in Zimbabwe. Your donation will help us provide clean water, improved sanitation, food distribution and other necessities.

Our most recent responses include:

• Over 23,000 people, including nearly 12,000 children, have benefitted from Save the Children's cholera response and anthrax interventions, including treatment and health education.
• Materials have been transported in cholera-affected areas in Plumtree and Chimanimani districts, including water treatment tablets, soap, water containers, posters and flyers, cooking oil, and kapenta fish.
• Efforts were coordinated with other non-government organizations and technical assistance was provided to the Ministry of Health.

Hunger Relief

• Save the Children has distributed food to more than 196,000 people, including over 100,000 children.  
• 671 tons of food were provided to 61,173 children and families in Kariba/Nyaminyami district and Zvimba.
• Nearly 53,000 children in Chimanimani district have received corn soya blend.

Education

• Though most public schools are running on low capacity due to limited attendance by teachers and students, Save the Children is reaching 150,000 children through our education interventions, such as teacher training, materials and school building improvements.

Child Protection

• A total of 3,866 children have been reached through our child protection services.
• Capacity development workshops and other efforts to protect children are being implemented.
• Many children deported from South Africa are being provided with interim care, support and counseling through our center in Beitbridge.

Material and Psychosocial Support

• Save the Children is targeting 8,000 people for non-food relief items and psychosocial support, of whom 50 percent are children in urban areas who have been displaced and separated from their families.

 Last Updated April 2009