Refugees International is traveling to Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa for four weeks in October to conduct an assessment mission of the humanitarian situation of Zimbabweans fleeing political and economic turmoil in their home country. The Refugees International (RI) team will evaluate the overall effectiveness of the response to the needs of Zimbabweans and of efforts to provide assistance and protection to groups that are particularly vulnerable.

It is now estimated that over three million Zimbabweans have left the country, with thousands more leaving on a daily basis. As humanitarian conditions deteriorate inside Zimbabwe, including widespread food shortages projected for later this year, RI will monitor how planning for an adequate response region-wide is developing. South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia are increasingly deporting Zimbabweans, and RI will evaluate the conditions of return. With elections also approaching in Zimbabwe, the potential for political violence and the need for political asylum in neighboring countries will also be examined.

The primary purpose of this mission is to evaluate how international and national aid agencies and the governments of Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa are assisting Zimbabweans in light of the growing outflows. RI will assess UN and humanitarian agencies efforts to meet protection and assistance needs and identify any constraints. We will focus on the degree to which responses to assistance needs have included protection components for those fleeing political persecution. We will also examine how the international response is being coordinated as well as efforts to establish longer-term planning in the case of greater upheaval inside Zimbabwe. RI will also assess the degree to which the stateless population of Zimbabwe is affected by the current crisis.