Saltar al contenido principal

The UN mobilizes further support to people affected by drought in Mozambique

Países
Mozambique
Fuentes
UNDP
+ 2
Fecha de publicación
Origen
Ver original

The United Nations is strengthening its support to emergency response in Mozambique, after the activation of the red alert declared by the Government.

Due to prolonged drought resulting from the El Niño climate phenomenon, the Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition (SETSAN) estimates that 1.5 million people are affected by "acute food insecurity" and are in need of humanitarian assistance. A number of districts of the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica and Tete registered rainfall below normal levels since January, adversely affecting the corn crop and other food and cash crops.

"The United Nations is working with the Government to ensure that the humanitarian needs of people affected by drought are met. Among the many people affected are children under 5 years of age and pregnant or nursing women with severe malnutrition, particularly in Sofala and Tete provinces, "said Marcia de Castro, UN Resident Coordinator in Mozambique.

Since November 2015, in order to reduce the vulnerability of affected populations, the United Nations in close coordination with the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC), SETSAN, provincial governments and NGOs have been supporting the provision of food aid, nutrition, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene of the affected people. They have also supported studies and appraisals of the situation in the affected districts.

Currently, agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations mobilize additional resources to continue to implement programs aimed at:

Increasing food assistance for the affected populations, rehabilitation of moderate and acute malnutrition and emergency school feeding (World Food Programme - WFP).

Provision of basic water resources, sanitation, hygiene, identification and treatment of malnourished children (United Nations Children’s Fund - UNICEF).

Provision of agricultural inputs for the second agricultural season and to improve access to water to cattle at risk (Food and Agriculture Organization -FAO).

Protection Based on gender, as it is feared that girls may be exposed to sexual and economic exploitation in the pursuit of alternative livelihoods (UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA).

Support the integration and development of resilience in response actions to the needs of the population (United Nations Development Programme - UNDP - and the UN agencies involved in the response).

Specifically after the Government's appeal to the UN in coordination with cooperation partners will work with the Government in mobilizing additional resources estimated at over 200 million US dollars to meet the needs of those affected.

For more information please contact:

Cláudio Julaia, UN Residente Coordinator’s Office -

claudio.julaia@one.un.org; (+258) 82 727 2860

Gabriel Pereira, UNICEF Moçambique

gpereira@unicef.org; (+258) 82 316 5390