‘Profoundly distressed,’ Annan pledges UN help for evicted Zimbabweans

Dubbing a report by his special envoy on recent evictions in Zimbabwe “profoundly distressing,” United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the Zimbabwean Government to stop immediately an operation that has done “a catastrophic injustice” to as many as 700,000 of the country’s poorest citizens.

In a statement issued after the release of the report by UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka which found that Zimbabwe Operation Restore Order “breached both national and international human rights law provisions guiding evictions, thereby precipitating a humanitarian crisis,” Mr. Annan pledged urgent UN action to mobilize immediate international humanitarian assistance to prevent further suffering.

“It is a profoundly distressing report, which confirms that “Operation Murambatsvina” has done a catastrophic injustice to as many as 700,000 of Zimbabwe's poorest citizens, through indiscriminate actions, carried out with disquieting indifference to human suffering,” Mr. Annan said, thanking the Government for its full cooperation with Ms. Tibaijuka.

“I call on the Government to stop these forced evictions and demolitions immediately, and to ensure that those who orchestrated this ill-advised policy are held fully accountable for their actions.”

But criticism, while fully justified, is not enough. “We have a duty to help those in need,” Mr. Annan added.

“In keeping with the recommendations of my envoy, the United Nations will urgently seek agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe to mobilize immediate humanitarian assistance on the scale that is required to avert further suffering. I urge the international community to respond generously to this call,” he declared.

“For its part, the Government must recognize the virtual state of emergency that now exists, allow unhindered access for humanitarian operations, and create conditions for sustainable relief and reconstruction.”

Once the most acute human needs have been addressed, Mr. Annan said the UN would play its part, and give whatever help it can, in implementing the report's other recommendations.

“Among these is the call for dialogue between the Government of Zimbabwe, domestic constituencies and the international community with a view to working together to address Zimbabwe's serious social, economic and political problems,” he noted.