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ACAPS Briefing Note: Mozambique - Floods (26 January 2017)

Countries
Mozambique
Sources
ACAPS
Publication date
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Crisis overview

Since the beginning of January 2017, heavy seasonal rains have been affecting central and southern provinces in Mozambique. 44 people have died and 79,000 have been affected. The Mozambican authorities issued an orange alert for the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane and Nampula, yet areas of Tete and Sofala provinces have also been affected. The orange alert means that government institutions are planning for an impending disaster. Continued rainfall has been forecaste for the first quarter of 2017.

Key findings

Anticipated scope and scale

Rains are expected to continue, which will increase the number of people affected. The risk of vector- and water-borne diseases is particularly high, as both cholera and malaria are endemic and outbreaks recurring.

Priorities for humanitarian intervention

  • WASH: Provision of drinking water is needed in affected areas. Mozambique suffers under poor WASH facilities and is prone to outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases.

  • Shelter: Since October 2016, 8,162 houses have been destroyed and 21,000 damaged by rains and floods.

  • Health: Healthcare needs are linked to the damage to healthcare facilities, which affects access to services. At least 30 healthcare centres have been affected.

  • Food: Farmland has been affected in Sofala province, one of the main cereal-producing areas of a country where 1.8 million people are already facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity.

Humanitarian constraints

Several roads and bridges have been damaged or flooded in the affected provinces. Some areas are only accessible by boat, and aid has to be airdropped.