The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working to dispatch emergency relief items including tents, tarpaulins, solar lanterns, cooking utensils and other items to help refugees who lost their homes parts of Zimbabwe devastated by Cyclone Idai.
The refugee agency is working with the governments of the affected countries and other humanitarian partners to assist those in need. These include refugees in Tongogara, Zimbabwe and the communities hosting them. UNHCR says 13,000 refugees at Tongogara camp and 20,000 residents who live nearby need urgent assistance. In Chipinge district, where Tongogara camp is located, over 2,000 refugee houses, mostly built with mud bricks were completely or partially damaged and over 600 latrines have collapsed.
UNHCR staff on the ground have conducted a rapid assessment to determine the extent of the damage and concluded that there is a danger of waterborne diseases as borehole water is feared to be contaminated by flood waters. The relief cargo will include items like family tents, plastic tarpaulins, sleeping mats, cooking sets and utensils, jerry cans, buckets, mosquito nets, solar lamps and soap.
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