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Mozambique: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 2

Countries
Mozambique
Sources
IFRC
Publication date

Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Allocated: CHF 70,000
This Bulletin is being issued based on the needs described below reflecting the information available at this time. Based on further updates and details from assessment reports, or should the situation deteriorate, the Federation may consider international support

The Situation

Mozambique is particularly prone to natural disasters. In 2000 and 2001 the country suffered severe floods and cyclones in the southern and central regions of the country. The current flood situation started on 31 December 2002 when tropical depression "Delfina" delivered heavy rains affecting the northern province of Nampula (namely the districts of Angoche, Mongicual and Mogovolas). Preliminary assessments conducted by the provincial government indicated that 800 houses constructed with precarious materials were destroyed, and about 4,000 people were affected. Some residential areas in the Administrative Post of Aube in Angoche are flooded and the victims were transferred to safe areas. The districts of Memba, Mogovolas and Lalaua are totally or partially isolated due to the destruction of roads.

Since 31 December 2002 heavy rains have also affected the districts of Quelimane, Nicoadala, Maganja da Costa, Namacurra, Mocuba, Pebane and Gurue in the central Zambézia province.

In Nampula, six people have died (four in Angoche, one in Namitele and one in Nampula City), as a consequence of the floods. Access is increasingly difficult with no road access to the districts of Moma, Murrupula, Ribaue, Malema, Lalaua and Mecuburi in Nampula province, and serious damage to bridges and other basic infrastructure (primary schools, health centres, small churches, small shops and informal markets). Between 18,000 to 20,000 houses have been partially or totally destroyed affecting some 100,000 people who are in urgent need of relief items such as food, blankets, plastic sheeting, clothing, agricultural tools and seeds.

Reports indicate that between 2,000 and 3,000 hectares of beans, cassava and thousands of cashew nut trees have been washed away and a variety of livestock has been lost. There are still serious water shortages in Monapo town and electricity is in the process of being re-established to Nampula, which had been cut off for some days due to downed pylons.

In Zambezia, a team composed of the Provincial Secretary, the DP officer and the Director of INGC attempted to go to Nante village in Maganja da Costa district on January 8th to carry out an assessment of the situation. They only managed to get up to within 27 km's before Nante because the road was flooded to a depth of 3 m. Information received by the MRCS Provincial Branch in Zambézia indicates that the Provincial Health Officer is now in Maganja da Costa and will stay for three days to assist the District Emergency Unit in the gathering of information and organising the volunteers.

According to information gathered during a preliminary assessment, in which MRCS participated, the following assistance was required: a total of 342 tons of maize, 38 tons of beans, 15 tons of cooking oil, 1,267 tents, 1,267 tarpaulins, 1,267 blankets and 6 boats are needed to assist a total of 25,329 affected people in Pebane and Maganja da Costa districts. This figure might be revised as the worst affected and most vulnerable are being identified.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Action

The Mozambique Red Cross Society (MRCS) continues to respond by providing critical support with the delivery of assistance to the affected population, including shelter, basic relief items, nutritional feeding, water and sanitation facilities, tracing and family reunification activities and HIV/AIDS and mine-awareness dissemination campaigns. The MRCS established a first aid post at Nante village, with local volunteers. In Maganja da Costa the population with houses along river basins is leaving to higher ground and the crops in these areas are already flooded. There are still 1,800 homeless people in Murodo village in Pebane district as a result of the overflow of the Ligonha River. There was no road connection between Quelimane and Pebane. The latest information indicates that the water level has dropped enough to re-establish the road link.

For a full description of the National Society profile, see www.ifrc.org

This and other reports area available on the Mozambique Red Cross Society website: www.redcross.org.mz

For further details please contact: In Geneva; Richard Hunlede, Desk officer; Phone +41 22 730 4414; Fax +41 22 733 0395; email richard.hunlede@ifrc.org

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal for the Pacific Regional Programmes (no. 01.71/2003)

John Horekens
Director
Division of External Relations

Bekele Geleta
Head
Africa Department