OCHA Situation Report No. 25 Mozambique - Floods 20 April 2000
Situation Tropical Storm 1. Tropical Storm, Hudah which caused heavy rainfall in coastal areas of Gaza and Inhambane provinces on 14 April has dissipated without resulting in great damage to flood affected areas. 2. The rivers in the south of the country continue to fall slowly, although slight fluctuations were noted on the Limpopo River because of rain upstream in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The rivers in the centre and north of Mozambique are stable and are below flood alert level. International Response 3. WFP delivered 122 tonnes of food on 14 April. The continued delivery of food depends on the repair and reopening of roads. The following table shows the distribution of the main commodities by province as of 17 April 2000. Summary of WFP distribution: 11.02.2000 to 17.04.2000 Province Beneficiaries | - - - - - - Products (tonnes) - - - - - - | Maize Beans Oil Sugar Biscuits Total Maputo city 11,028 173.07 17.31 6.92 6.92 - 204.22 Matola 5,000 117.99 11.80 4.72 4.72 139.23 Maputo 79,927 921.72 104.99 31.54 34.23 29.19 1,121.66 Gaza 263,117 2,303.40 364.83 114.56 133.52 137.66 3,053.96 Inhambane 35,426 416.05 49.85 18.26 20.05 17.59 521.79 Sofala 132,116 1,799.06 194.41 72.34 59.70 27.25 2,152.75 Manica 40,637 610.91 79.74 27.74 19.70 9.19 747.28 Tete 3,350 232.00 20.00 - - - 252.00 Total 570,601 6,574.20 842.93 276.07 278.84 220.87 8,192.91 Agriculture 4. Some of the trucks, bringing 17,000 seeds kits from Harare have been held up at the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa. As soon as possible, seeds will be distributed in Inhambane and Gaza, from Chibuto by air to Guija, Mabalane and Chicualcuala. 5. Some seed packs have already been delivered in Gaza (6,871) and Inhambane (5,000) provinces. Moreover a train has arrived in Mapai with seven wagons loaded with seeds and tools. World Relief is currently unloading this shipment for distribution in Chicualacuala, Chigubo and Massangena. 6. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is conducting a crop assessment and food needs evaluation in conjunction with the FAO and the WFP, which is expected to take six days. Health 7. The Joint Logistics Co-ordination Centre (JLOC) arranged transport for the Ministry of Health to deliver essential medical and surgical materials to Nampula, in the north of the country, for distribution to other provinces in the north. 8. A health assessment in Mossurize district of Manica province from 04 to 06 April found that eight people had lost their lives because of the floods in the Dacata administrative post. The floods affected communities in this area of the Buzi River valley, consisting of 468 families at Gunhe, Mafusse and Chicambwe, totalling 2,874 people. The most common diseases in Mossurize district were reported to be malaria and diarrhoea. 9. A report on the health sector in Inhambane province indicated that 94,577 cases of malaria had been reported in the first quarter of the year, compared to 76,802 cases in the same period in 1999. The health situation in the accommodation centres in Save and Pande is good. The health centre at Nova Mambone is currently functioning in tents. MSF Spain has offered to help repair the roof of one of the buildings of the health centre to house curative and preventive services. 10. A report from the Mozambique Red Cross indicated an outbreak of cholera in three districts in Tete province in March and April, namely Moatize, Changara and Mutarara. The report mentioned 140 cases in Moatize, including six deaths, but had no details of the other two districts. Water and Sanitation 11. A team has visited the Sabie area of Maputo province to prepare for the installation of water treatment equipment. This equipment should be installed during the course of this week. Two of three pumps planned have been installed in Chokwe and the drainage of Chokwe and Xai Xai with pumps continues. 12. Other activities planned for this week include the installation of pumps for the water supply system in Xai Xai, and continued work to repair the water supply system in Chokwe. Efforts are also continuing to clean up the cities of Xai Xai and Chokwe in order to bring life back to normal. 13. It is also planned to distribute family hygiene kits and disinfect wells in places along the Save valley, as well as in isolated areas of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica and Sofala provinces. Logistics 14. From 14 to 16 April, the Joint Logistics Operation Centre (JLOC) co-ordinated 282.92 hours of flying time, with 380.68 tonnes of freight and 380 passengers. 15. The JLOC is operating with one less aircraft than was previously reported, since one South African helicopter has been taken home for maintenance. 16. The target date for the phase-out of air assets is now 29 April. However, certain locations are expected to remain inaccessible by road. The situation might therefore be reviewed in the coming days. 17. On 26 April, a lessons learned exercise on logistics will be organised by the Government, INGC, with OCHA participation. Roads 18. In Manica the Dacata Administrative Post in Mossurize District is cut off from the district capital because a bridge over the Mutuadza River is down. Road communications with Chirauirue administrative post in Mossurize district are limited to Muzite and Chinguno. 19. In Sofala, the road from Guaraguara to Buzi was under repair as of 12 April. It was not known when the road would open to heavy traffic. The road to Nova Mambone is accessible for vehicles up to seven tonnes. 20. In Inhambane province, the district capital of Inhassoro is isolated from the EN1 highway because a bridge over the Govuro River is down. The crossing is currently being made by boat. Access to the Mabote district capital has been restored, but problems remain for communications with the localities of Zinave, Benzane and Zimane. 21. Information on contributions is often reaching OCHA from multiple sources. Therefore, in order to avoid duplications/omissions and subsequently to allow for accurate contribution tracking and coordination, donors are strongly urged to verify the contributions and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions as required, using the form provided. 22. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in co-ordination with the relevant organisations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA Account No. CO-590.160.1 SWIFT-code UBSWCHZ12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Mozambique - Floods 2000. 23. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above mentioned Financial Tracking Website. 24. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int. Telephone: +41-22-91712 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch): Mr. K. Wiersing /Ms. Y. Sawada, direct Tel. +41-22 917 2270/ +41-22-917 1768 Press contact: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Southern Africa Floods: http://www.vita.org/safflud.htm