closed following attacks on health staff, who were reported to have been between and several raped. Health workers have been obstructed in their duties, and even prevented from rendering assistance to seriously ill patients. There are also reports that health workers have become fearful of treating victims of violence, with the basis of the fear being that such assistance would be interpreted as favour to one political party over another. These more direct attacks on the functioning of civil society must be added to the prevailing climate of disruption induced by the violence. Overall, the reports from the press and civil society are cause for considerable concern. The scale and the intensity are difficult to gauge, but it must be pointed out that previous experience in a number of different countries indicates that the effects of low intensity conflict do not usually manifest for some time afterwards. There is now persuasive evidence that the effects may even be inter-generational, and the experience of the IRCT indicates that the effects may be categorised as follows: • • • • Individual • Physical disorders and disability • Psychological disorders Family disorder and disruption Community dysfunction and poverty Inter-generational effects, both of a social and political nature. 4. Methods 4.1 Interviews of key informants Meetings were held with a number of individuals and organisations (see Appendix B). Health organisations: Zimbabwe Medical Association Zimbabwe Nurses Association Community Working Group on Health Legal Organisations Legal Resources Foundation Human Rights Organisations AMANI Trust (Harare & Bulawayo) Amnesty International National Constitutional Assembly ZimRights Diplomatic Missions The Royal Danish Embassy The Embassy of Greece The Delegation of the European Commission Churches Catholic Church 14