Testimonies from the affected population and service providers indicate that a number of AIDS patients have had their ARV treatment disrupted as a result of the evictions. Several hundred persons receiving such treatment have been reported displaced in Harare alone. 63 As many displaced persons are reported to have requested formal transfers to alternate ARV treatment providing sites, it is difficult at this point to assess to what extent the Operation has led to higher ARV treatment default rates. In cases where ARV treatment has been interrupted, this could result in drug resistance, declining health, and ultimately death. Furthermore, displacement could affect the ability of ARV patients to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, thereby undermining the treatment regime. The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights have expressed grave concern that the displacements could lead to an increase in HIV across the country, and that a large proportion of the new infections could be resistant to first-line treatment (Nevirapine). 64 Other medical groups have also expressed concerns that a more aggressive strain of TB65 , which was previously only found in Harare and requires more expensive, complicated treatment, could spread to other parts of the country.66 Home-based care (HBC) for AIDS sufferers has been disrupted in many places, and several organizations have indicated a 15-25% reduction in the number of patients accessing their programmes. A significant number of HBC clients and other chronically ill patients appear to remain without adequate shelter, with serious health consequences. Some also have problems accessing hot meals even if they are able to obtain food rations, as water, firewood and cooking facilities often are missing. Many trained volunteers have themselves been displaced, leading to interrupted services for those patients that have not been directly affected by the evictions. One volunteer caregiver, a single mother whose story was shared with the mission, described how her 24-year old daughter had been receiving home-based care for HIV long before the Operation.67 Following the demolition of their home, the care programme for the sick daughter was interrupted. The mother also had to spend most of her time looking for alternative accommodation and was therefore unable to look after other HIV patients in the community whom she had assisted in the past. Furthermore, she was unable to take care of her sick daughter, whose condition was worsening as a result of homelessness, destitution and lack of care. HIV prevention is an area of great concern following the evictions, as displacements often put people at greater risk of being infected with the virus. Potential risk factors in the current situation include the separation of couples, increased stress, transactional and commercial sex, sexual violence, as well as interruption of services and supplies. Family separation is a particularly important risk factor in the spread of HIV, and previous experience indicates that displacement and separation of couples could lead to an increased frequency in unsafe sex. Access to services such as HIV information, counseling and condom distribution has been severely disrupted in many places as a direct consequence of the Operation. Nationwide sales of male condoms are reported to have dropped by over 20% from May to June 2005, while sales of 63 “Interim United Nations Multi-Sectoral Response Plan to the Recent Evictions in Zimbabwe”, 27 June 2005. 64 Submission from Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights. 65 The spread of HIV/AIDS and TB are closely related in developing countries. 66 Confidential source. 67 Story shared during meeting of the Special Envoy with women’s groups in Harare. 40