ActionAid International - Combined Harare Residents’ Association - A Study on the impact of “Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order” the preoccupation that members of communities find themselves in meeting survival strategies. Households hosting orphans and female headed households according to the survey results were more likely to cite this as one aspect affected by the operation. 3.3.4 Property During the Operation, property was lost as security of household property was compromised, breakage of property as a direct result of the demolitions, property seized by the police and council police. Furthermore, some artisans sold tools and products at give away prices in order to minimize losses as a result of the Operation. Forty five percent (45%) of homesteads visited reported that they had incurred losses of property. Unfortunately, the survey was not able to quantify in Zimbabwean dollar value what it was exactly the affected communities had lost and also the nature of the property. However, based on the figure quoted, this clearly demonstrates that the affected communities’ had lost a lot of property. Generally, households assets are used as a source of revenue in extreme cases, now with the loss of property, this can only mean that household security and safety needs had been reduced. Nonetheless no apparent difference was noted for the type of household and the vulnerability category in this respect. 3.3.5 Deterioration in health The well being of the community is one important indicator of social wellbeing. And as such the survey explored how individuals had coped health wise, after Operation Murambatsvina. It is sad to note that slightly over 20% of people interviewed, attributed the deterioration of health of their loved ones as a direct result of the operation. Moreso considering the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, it would be safe to assume that individuals who were receiving medication (ARTs) and support (food, counselling) had lost these services as a result of the Operation. Furthermore, as already stated above, those with livelihoods that have been destroyed may not be able to meet their dietary requirements resulting in the increased deterioration of their health. 3.3.6 Food security Food security has four pillars, namely; access, availability, utilization and affordability. Approximately, 60% of households sampled claimed that they had become food insecure as a consequence of the Operation. Being urban areas, most of the food supply to the family is sourced from the market. Little or no food finds its way from the rural areas if a family has rural linkages exists. With the continued escalation in the cost of basic commodities especially food in the country with the simultaneous destruction of livelihoods, communities have increasing become food insecure. 3.3.7 Household safety and security Household safety and security was defined as the family ability to protect and safe guard its assets (physical) and from exploitation. Almost half (49%) of the homesteads reported that this indicator had been compromised as a result of the operation. Reasons attributed may be the influx of unemployed people as a result of the Operation. Furthermore, in Mbare some households were living in the open adjacent to Mbare Bus Terminus (wards 12, 3, and 4). Reasons cited for this were 1) inability to secure alternative accommodation because of the scarcity and cost, 2) shortage of buses to ferry displaced people to their rural areas, 3) in ability to secure bus fares and 4) people who had nowhere to go. 3.3.8 Disruption of the family unit Housing waiting list runs into hundreds of thousands in Harare and all other urban areas in Zimbabwe. Sharing of homesteads and extension of houses was a way in which 10