Derick Tsimba
Manicaland Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is in the process of opening up more distribution points for food and non-food items for Cyclone Idai victims, the Manicaland Chairperson of the Relief and Psycho-Social Support Committee, Charity Ndadzungira has said.
Ndadzungira said this during at a recent Provincial CPU meeting to address the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai, that the Provincial CPU was going ahead to open up more distribution points across the affected areas.
“The Relief and Psycho-Social Support Committee established a new relief distribution point at Silverstream in Chimanimani. CPU is planning to open new distribution points at Rusitu, Machongwe and Chimanimani Urban in order to speed up the distribution of food and non-food items to the Cyclone victims.
“In view of that, all vehicles transporting these goods would be escorted by ZNA and ZRP to minimise the risk of losing the goods to robbers,” said Ndadzungira.
The Chairperson of the Rescue and Searches Sub-committee, Brigadier General Francis Chakuraya said they were continuing with search and rescue operations.
“Searches and rescue operations are underway in Ngangu and Rusitu. However, they are becoming difficult because of stone boulders that have covered all the areas being suspected to have submerged bodies. An excavator is required to remove the rock boulders,” said the Brigadier General.
The Health Subcommittee Chairperson, Dr Patron Mafaune said 50 Doctors were working under the rescue operation.
“Fifty doctors are working under the rescue operation, 43 from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, five from Presbyterian Church and three from Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights. A consignment of 6 medical assortments from Tanzanian Government was delivered at Silverstream and we are still expecting 26 more assortments. The committee is facing challenges in discharging treated patients since they have nowhere to go after being discharged, we need temporary shelter for discharged patients,” said Dr Mafaune.
Harare Post has learnt that 63 schools in Chipinge, Chimanimani, and Buhera were affected and $2 375 500 is needed for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the schools.
