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Jackie Anderson
I have been in Manicaland province operating from Mutare and visiting Chimanimani, Chipinge and surrounding areas affected by Cyclone Idai.
I would like to take this opportunity to update on the progress we are making on the ground, as well as to thank you all for your support. Your tireless efforts have made all of this possible.
In the first seven days after the cyclone, Miracle Missions with other partners responded by collecting aid and donations for the relief effort. Our volunteers loaded trucks that were sent to our Mutare depot within the first week.
This first response effort was made up of various church groups, businesses, Non Governmental Organisations and private individuals. Within this first week, access to the most affected areas such as Chimanimani, Rusitu and Kopa could only be done by helicopter.
A huge thank you to Econet and the Airforce of Zimbabwe. Miracle Missions contributed donations into a streamlined distribution centre at Silver Streams, for disbursement initially by air, and later by road.
Miracle Missions was one of many organisations that contributed to the vast stock pile at this warehouse. Private individuals affiliated to the Mountain Club and 4×4 Club of Zimbabwe in collaboration with Miracle Missions found their way by reopening old disused tracks into Chimanimani.
Bulldozers and graders owned or sponsored by Bitumen World and Green Fuels turned this into a communications link accessible by 4×4 vehicles. The 4×4 Club deployed 4×4 trucks, unimogs and specialised extreme vehicles for the initial transportation of 110 tonnes of donations into Chimanimani town.
This road effort was later contributed to by The Base Church. This team then went on to further deliver essential supplies to various communities affected by the disaster in the surrounding area.
Detailed distribution reports are currently being collated for our donors and will be published as soon as collating is complete.
The processes and protocols required in such a complex response effort take time to develop, but are vital to ensure focused and effective delivery. Miracle Missions have participated successfully in discussions to develop these protocols and have established critical relationships to enable us to operate within our mandate to deliver your donations.
The organisation sees itself as a collaborative partner in the delivery of the disaster relief alongside key Government structures, army, air force, the Civil Protection Unit, NGO’s, local networks and church groups.
It is our intention and mandate to deliver a transparent service that is accountable to all our partners. Please be mindful of social media platforms that easily misconstrue or misrepresent our work.
Be assured that we are continually collecting all our data and provide weekly reports to monitor and evaluate our progress. The nature of this disaster is wide spread, and creates much difficulty in terms of logistics access and delivery.
However, all teams, including Government structures are working endlessly to help those affected, and are being successful in achieving that goal. I commend the first responders and the public for their combined efforts.
Together we are making this possible, please stay with us as we move into the next stage of responding, which is now about restoring dignity and hope, and rebuilding lives.
Online Reporter