OCHA Situation Report No. 30
Mozambique - Floods
9 October 2000


With the phasing out of the transitional appeal, which covered the period
from March to end of September, the emergency phase in Mozambique also
ended.

1.  A lessons learned seminar, held in Maputo from 28-29 September
provided an opportunity to review both the national and international
response to the flood emergency. The seminar was organised by the
Government, INGC, with assistance from the UNRC office and sponsored by
OCHA. It brought together some 150 participants from the national
provincial governments, UN agencies and NGOs. (Ref. OCHA Situation Report
No.29 para.4) and was opened by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation.

2.  The objective was to allow an exchange among the various actors of
experiences, which provided a common ground for developing plans of
actions for future emergencies. The discussions in the working groups were
based on a background document, prepared by an independent consultant,
funded by OCHA. The principal issue for all groups was the elaboration of
elements for contingency planning at national and provincial levels. All
the more important in view of the fact that Mozambique and the whole
region are only two months away from the coming rainy season. Taking into
account the outcome of the discussions, UNDP-Maputo is in the process of
finalising a project document aiming at the strengthening of disaster
response in the country.

3.  Coordination: Since the closure of the OCHA Support Office in the
INGC, a need for outside expertise in emergency legislation has been
identified.(Ref. OCHA Situation Report No.29 para.5).  OCHA has requested
the INGC to prepare the TOR, which are being finalised. The OCHA support
for LINK, an umbrella organization representing over 100 NGOs in
Mozambique, and to the Mozambique Red Cross Society, to reinforce its
coordination capacity for the duration of the emergency ended on 30
September.  LINK and the Mozambique Red Cross Society have established a
new partnership with the INGC and national NGOs, which will serve as a
basis for cooperation in case of future emergencies.

4.  Resettlement:  UNDP's Resettlement Unit will continue its monitoring
of shelter initiatives of NGOs in the flood-affected provinces.

5.  Food assistance: On 26 September, WFP extended its emergency operation
to assist over 172,000 people still facing severe food shortages.

6.  Water and Sanitation: In July, UNDP, in partnership with the Southern
African Development Community (SADC), began a series of consultations with
Member States on the issue of vulnerability to floods. Efforts are also
underway to strengthen the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum,
which monitors hydro-meteorological conditions in Southern Africa. The
Government of Mozambique, the Water in Rivers (WIR) Secretariat and the
International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR) is
organising an International Conference and Technical Workshop to be held
this month.  The conference, including a two-day workshop and two days of
field trips, will assess the hydrological, geological, engineering and
social aspects of the Mozambique flood to propose structural and
non-structural alternatives for mitigation.

7.  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.

8.  At this stage no further situation reports are envisaged. This
Situation Report is 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 Mr. K. Wiersing /Ms. Y. Sawada, Disaster Response
Branch): direct Tel. +41 22 917 2270/ +41-22-917 1768

Press contact:  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53


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