ActionAid International - Combined Harare Residents’ Association - A Study on the impact of “Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order” Harareans sought to mitigate the accommodation problem. The Operation destroyed structures that were deemed as illegal in Harare’s high density areas. More than three quarters (3/4) of the respondents reported losing shelter. If this is the case, due to the strain and the exorbitant rental rates that the landlords charge, the family unit is exposed to further economic strain. It worrying to note that over 40% of homesteads visited reported that family units had been disrupted as a result of the operation. Mostly children and spouses had been relocated back to the rural homesteads if this was plausible. 3.3.9 Women status and dignity Humiliation and loss of dignity as a direct result of the operation was also reported. Prior to the demolition exercise, it is reported and accounted by respondents that the authorities would move around marking what they deemed as illegal structures using paint. The marked buildings were to be destroyed. Such actions resemble a war situation. Therefore, naturally, women primarily as custodians of the family, were victims of such draconian measures. This is witnessed by 39% of the interviewed homesteads claiming that they had lost their dignity as a result of the Operation. 3.3.10 Increased vulnerability for children, orphans and women In a disaster (natural or man made in this case) children and women are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. It is saddening to note that 37% of the interviewed homesteads acknowledged that women and children had become more vulnerable to abuse as a consequence of the Operation. Furthermore, a high proportion of the these were from female-headed households. A major problem that normally ensues is sexual exploitation as women try to fend for children. As earlier highlighted, the majority of child headed households are girls. This not only reinforces the earlier statement that they are increasingly becoming vulnerable. 3.3.11 Psychologically affected (traumatized) The operation was swiftly implemented without prior warning in most wards. Heavy machinery such as bull dozers and trucks were rolled out. To complement this armed police and riot personnel participated in the Operation. The scale of the Operation in some instances resembled a war situation. As a result almost 40% of respondents interviewed claimed that they had been traumatized by the graphic, detailed and heavy handedness of the implementers of the Operations. From the analysis done, this was generally the same across board. Despite the low proportion of child headed households, this seemed to be reported in 82% of child headed households. 3.4 Coping mechanisms being employed by affected communities Coping mechanisms are behavioural changes made at household level to adjust to unexpected and expected shocks. It becomes extremely prudent to establish how households are coping as a result of the sheer magnitude of the operation. Coping mechanisms employed paint a good picture on the vulnerability status of the affected communities. Currently, only 37% households reported that they were using their own resources to sustain the family. A further 22% claimed to be getting assistance from relatives, whilst government, community based organizations and non-governmental organizations accounted for a mere 6% (see Figure 2). More importantly is the realization that 35% of households were not receiving any assistance at all and described themselves as not managing the situation at all. In this bracket, the majority were child- and women headed households accounting for 76% of the responses. This proportion is in urgent need of assistance, whilst those that are being supported by relative may not be in 11