Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - December 6, 2005
"The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is very serious," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland told reporters after an hour-long meeting with President Robert Mugabe in the capital, Harare.
"Millions of people are struggling with their backs against the wall to fend off hunger and HIV/AIDS. I hope we will have a more fruitful partnership with the government in 2006."
Mugabe and Egeland disagreed over the merits and scope of the government's Operation Murambatsvina, or "Clear Out Trash."
A U.N. report estimated at least 700,000 were left without work or shelter because of the demolitions that began in May - a figure disputed by the government - and called for those responsible to be punished.
"We stand by the report," Egeland said Tuesday. "The eviction campaign was the worst possible thing at the worst possible moment ... The important thing now is to look to the future. We have to help these people."
He reserved judgment on the motive for the drive, which opposition leaders claim was aimed at breaking up their strongholds among the urban poor.
Mugabe's government denies a political motive and says the demolitions were part of a much-needed urban renewal drive.
It has promised to rehouse "deserving" Zimbabweans, but Egeland said reconstruction was too slow, and many were left in the open after the start of seasonal rains last month.
"Some people had better houses before than the shelters now being made available to them," he added.
Egeland wraps up a three-day visit Wednesday aimed at assessing the humanitarian needs of Zimbabwe, also reeling from massive food shortages, up to 80% unemployment and an AIDS epidemic that is killing some 3,000 people a week.
The agriculture-based economy collapsed under the pressure of years of drought and the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to black Zimbabweans.
Egeland has met with government officials, church leaders, aid workers and displaced people during his trip. He has also toured demolition sites, housing projects and a center for AIDS orphans.
Strained relations between Zimbabwe and the U.N. eased last week when the government agreed to allow the World Food Program to help feed at least 3 million people after earlier denying critical shortages.
Zimbabwe has also agreed to allow the U.N. to help build new shelters for those displaced by Murambatsvina - a move welcomed by Egeland.
"We are the shelter experts of the world," he said. "We should have been able to move in earlier."
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