Zimbabwe — COVID-19 Pandemic Response 1 (7 May 2020)

As of 5 May 2020, South Africa has reported 7,220 confirmed cases across all the nine provinces of the country, with 138 deaths. The Government of South Africa had since declared a State of National Disaster and on 26 March 2020, a nationwide lockdown was declared with further extension by two weeks until 30 April 2020 in order to contain the spread of the virus. Although, the South African government has announced some assistance to ameliorate the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 response, thousands of Zimbabwean migrants, particularly those in irregular and vulnerable situations, are finding it difficult to have access to this assistance. At the initiatives of some Zimbabwean Diaspora in South Africa, in collaboration with the Embassy of Zimbabwe and the International Organization for Migration, a COVID-19 Humanitarian Appeal was launched to respond to the most urgent needs of stranded and vulnerable Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa. So far, at least 6,854 stranded migrants are extremely vulnerable and in need emergency humanitarian assistance.