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Mozambique humanitarian team requests $10.2 million for Cyclone Dineo response

Countries
Mozambique
Sources
UNCT Mozambique
Publication date

An overview of the crisis

Cyclone Dineo made landfall on the coast of Inhambane province, south of Mozambique the night of Wednesday February 15th 2017 accompanied by winds of 160 kilometers per hour. It finally dissipated over South Africa and Zimbabwe on Friday February 17th.

According to the provincial authorities of Inhambane, the cyclone affected about 550,691 people (112,513families) which 7,651 families were considered most vulnerable. At least 33,712 houses were totally and 71,294 partially destroyed being Massinga, Morrumbene, Maxixe and Inhambane city the most affected districts. In terms of infrastructure, 389 Government offices, 70 health units including 52 maternities as well as 1,687 classrooms were partially destroyed. The Education authorities estimated 160,000 students and 5,500 teachers were affected. Maternal and ARVT services were disrupted, so increase in SRH-related morbility and mortality might be expected. In the affected area about 14,000 women are expecting to give birth in next three months while approximately 2,100 of them may face risk of obstetric complications requiring emergency obstetric care. It is also estimated that 9-15% of all newborns may require lifesaving emergency care.

Furthermore, there was downfall of 899 power poles leaving 8 districts without electricity for at least five days affecting the water supply in Maxixe and Inhambane city.

The authorities reported a death toll of 7 and 101 people injured. During the cyclone about 949 people were hosted in three transit centers in Maxixe city. As of 19 February 2017, with the improvement of the weather people returned to their houses and transit centers were closed.

In the agriculture sector, approximately 29,173 ha of several crops were lost being Massinga, Morrumbene, Inhambane and Funhalouro the most affected districts. Moreover, about 135,865 fruit trees (cashew and coconut trees) were lost. These fruit trees represent an important source of incomes for the population affected (most of affected districts were Massinga, Inharrime, Morrumbene and Jangamo districts). The authorities estimated a need of 128 tons of diverse seeds among cereals, pulses, vegetables and tubers.

It is important to acknowledge the early warning issued by the Government authorities before the landfall of the cyclone. On 13th February 2017, the government called the Technical Council for Disaster Management for a meeting to discuss and recommend the prevention and readness measures which included the communication to the local government in concerned provinces, activation of local committees for disaster Management, intensification of monitoring measures, awareness of the population in risk areas to move to safe areas among other measure.The Government estimates an overall funding requirements of US$ 16.5 million to restore from the damages caused by DINEO cyclone which US$ 6.7 million are needed immediately. This funding estimation refers to support needed on infrastructure, agriculture and humanitarian assistance. The Government allocated 160 million MT from the Contingency Plan (US$ 2.3 million) for immediate interventions.

The response to date has been provided by the Government with support of Humanitarian Country team and included provision of tents for maternity services in affected health units in Maxixe and Morrumbene, provision of fuel for emergency water pumping in Inhambane, provision of food and shelter kits for the most vulnerable people as well as food for work/assets for road cleaning/debris removal. On 22 February 2017, the Government invited the donors and partners to request for support to respond to the existing needs.