Zimbabwe — humanitarian situation

Zimbabwe faces a complex humanitarian emergency driven by the convergence of a renewed cholera outbreak, large-scale returnee influx from South Africa, and deteriorating food security conditions. A cholera outbreak declared in early July 2026 has prompted emergency response operations IFRC, emerging less than two years after Zimbabwe controlled its largest cholera epidemic in over a decade that recorded 34,549 suspected cases and 718 deaths between February 2023 and June 2024. The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society continues implementation of cholera prevention protocols through September 2026 IFRC. Severe flooding from January through March 2026 affected multiple areas, with intense rainfall causing dam spillages, riverine overflow, and flash flooding particularly between 13-24 January IFRC. Escalating anti-migrant violence in South Africa since April 2026 has triggered a massive return of Zimbabwean nationals, with the government reporting nearly 100,000 returnees by mid-July IMC. Women and children account for approximately 70 percent of returnees, with more than 20,000 Zimbabweans awaiting transportation support at diplomatic missions and assembly points across South Africa IMC. The violence concentrated in major urban centers including Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town resulted in intimidation, displacement, and disrupted access to essential healthcare, particularly affecting HIV treatment and other chronic medication continuity MSF, IFRC. WFP and United Nations agencies support the Government of Zimbabwe in coordinating reception and assistance efforts for returnees, while WFP launched the Youth Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme to address unemployment and create economic opportunities. Food security conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly in the coming months. Crisis-level outcomes (IPC Phase 3) are anticipated to emerge in October 2026 across typical deficit-producing areas in southern, eastern, western, and extreme northern regions as households exhaust own-produced food stocks early and face below-average purchasing power amid high cereal prices FEWS NET. Stressed outcomes (IPC Phase 2) persist through September, with most households currently meeting basic food needs from the 2026 harvest FEWS NET. Zimbabwe successfully completed three rounds of synchronized polio vaccination campaigns using novel oral polio vaccine type 2 as part of regional response efforts following the October 2023 outbreak declaration WHO.