Zimbabwe Envoy to Visit Victoria Falls Region

UN Envoy Assessing Mass Evictions in Zimbabwe to Visit Victoria Falls Region

New York, Jul 4 2005 1:00PM

After a week of meetings in Zimbabwe with the President as well as ordinary citizens who have been evicted from their homes, a United Nations special envoy plans further travels in the country as part of her fact-finding mission on humanitarian needs there, a spokesman for the world body reported today.

Special Envoy Anna Tibaijuka, who is also the Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), will continue to hold meetings both in the capital, Harare, and in other parts of the country in the days ahead.

A spokesman traveling with Mrs. Tibaijuka said she is scheduled to go to Bulawayo by car today with stops along the way in the Midlands province. While in Zimbabwe, the Special Envoy will also visit the Victoria Falls region.

Over the course of last week, Mrs. Tibaijuka met with President Robert Mugabe, who gave her free access to visit any site and speak with anyone. She and her team have held numerous meetings with people affected by recent mass evictions in a number of locations, including the Caledonia Farm where over 4,000 evictees are waiting to be resettled.

The Special Envoy is in Zimbabwe on a fact finding missions to assess the scope and extent of the recent mass evictions. She is also sizing up the adequacy of the Government's arrangements for the displaced and its capacity to address the basic needs of the affected population, along with the ability of the UN and its partners to respond to their humanitarian needs.

ENDS

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