Cyclone Idai hit the eastern part of Zimbabwe, on 15 and 16 March, with Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in Manicaland Province being the most affected hardest-hit left 15,000 women and girls at risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV). The cyclone came at a challenging when the country is already grappling with a humanitarian crisis due to a drought further exposing women and girls to GBV increased exposure as they try to cope with limited access to food.

In Chimanimani and Chipinge significant damage to homes, schools and community structures forced the displaced community into temporary collective shelters (schools, churches) transit camps and with host families in several districts. Lack of privacy and safe spaces at emergency shelters triggered the vulnerability of women to all forms of GBV, including sexual abuse.

*Maria Ndagurwa (35), a mother of five from Old Location in Chimanimani says when she moved into a public place with her children after the cyclone had destroyed their home – she thought they were ‘safe.’ She did not suspect anything could happen since they were staying with people from her community whose houses had also been destroyed by the cyclone.

Ndagurwa says when she arrived at the shelter, some male community members had been ‘chosen’ to be in charge of the food preparation and distribution.

“One of the men who was in charge of the food distribution started proposing love to me, promising that he would give me tinned beef and cooking oil to feed my family,” she says. “It made uncomfortable more so because this was someone I knew; someone I had lived with in the same community before the cyclone. It was also disturbing that the food was not his – this was food that had been donated by well-wishers.”

“When I started sharing with other women that the man had approached me proposing love, I realized that I was not the only woman who had been approached by these men. The men were demanding sex from several women including married females in exchange for food commodities. One woman confided in me that she had slept with the man in the bushes for a 2 litre bottle of cooking oil.”

Maria says when Musasa Project visited the shelter, it was indeed a stitch in time as the men had started sleeping with young girls as well.  She says there was need for an intervention to address the problem that women and girls were now faced with at the shelter. She says Musasa sensitized the women on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) as part of the response to the cyclone – they explained to us that what the men were asking for was not right as aid to cyclone affected population is for free and no one must propose sex in exchange of it.  

“We trusted the women from Musasa enough to share what was happening at the shelter with regards to sexual exploitation in exchange for food – some women were however too scared to come out in the open to Musasa that they had been abused.”

Following the revelations of sexual abuse at the temporary shelter – Musasa Project conducted sensitization sessions on PSEA for everyone including young women. They provided us with the information on where such cases could be reported and most important, they made us understand that reporting would not have any consequence such as being cut off the aid beneficiaries list – which was the main fear among us.

Sexual exploitation and abuse occurs in a situation where there is an exchange of money, shelter, food or other goods for sex or sexual favours from someone in a vulnerable position. It can also involve threatening or forcing someone to have sex or provide sexual favours under unequal or forced conditions.

Maria’s story is similar to the cries of several women in temporary shelters in the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Idai.  The feeling of powerlessness in the decision – making process and the feeling of insecurity led to most women and girls being at risk of and exposed to GBV.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Zimbabwe is supporting implementing partners like Musasa Project, Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to assist women like Maria who have survived GBV with counselling services, and referrals to appropriate services. UNFPA is also providing these organisations with financial and technical support and tools necessary to provide GBV prevention and mitigation services in the specific emergency context.

Musasa Project and IRC are running ‘safe spaces’ which are non-stigmatizing locations where women may conduct a variety of activities and discuss issues related to well-being.  The spaces also include counselling services - which may incorporate counselling for GBV survivors to help women cope with their situation and prepare them for eventual return to their communities.

During humanitarian crises, women are often exposed to GBV perpetrated by those who may be in charge of aid leaving women like Maria vulnerable. UNFPA has stepped in to ensure affected communities know their rights, are aware of the SEA complaints mechanisms and feel empowered to report cases through established channels, including community structures, hotlines and specialized services.

Furthermore, UNFPA is supporting Africa University to sensitize humanitarian workers on the ground on prohibited conduct in emergencies with specific focus on the Prevention and Response of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of women and girls.

UNFPA has also distributed educational material for both communities and humanitarian aid workers on reporting systems and referral pathways. A pocket guide is also made available to all humanitarian workers. This summarizes the principles of code of conduct and PSEA for aid workers to aid in the discharge of duties.

*Not her real name