OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Mozambique - Floods
8 March 2001


Situation

1. During 5 to 7 March, the Assistant Emergency Relief Coordinator met
with high level Mozambican officials, visited Beira, the hub for national
and international relief operations and flew to the flooded Zambezi valley
and the Zambezia province, accompanied by the UN-Resident Coordinator and
OCHA staff.

2. Prior to his field visits, he had met with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in Maputo and conveyed to him the concerns of the
Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator over the worsening
flood situation and pledged the continuous support of the international
community to Mozambique. The visits of affected areas were complemented by
discussions with the Governor of Sofala Province, the Minister of
Transport and Communications, in charge of the operations in Beira, flood
victims and a host of representatives of UN agencies, donors and NGOs. In
both Beira and Quelimane the Assistant Emergency Coordinator held briefing
sessions with national and international media correspondents.

3. The consensus reached at these meetings among the INGC, UN agencies
and NGOs was to concentrate the relief efforts on the evacuation of
populations at risk in the Zambezi valley and the delivery of humanitarian
assistance to them. For that purpose, contingency plans are being worked
out, envisaging, among others, assessment missions to affected areas to
determine the number of people in need to be evacuated.

4. On 7 March, the UN inter-agency appeal was launched in Maputo in the
presence of the Assistant Emergency Coordinator. In this appeal OCHA,
UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA ask for a total of 10.7 million USD
to assist displaced and affected populations in four provinces: Zambezia,
Sofala, Tete and Manica, over a period of 3 months.

5. The inter-agency appeal is part, not an addition, to the Government
appeal of 21 February, requesting 30 million USD and focuses on areas
where the UN have demonstrated skills, experience and are confident to be
able to deliver. Prior to the ending of the three-month period, UN
agencies, counterpart ministries and NGOs will conduct a revision of the
humanitarian needs in the affected provinces.


Sector Summary: (all figures in USD)
The full version of the inter-agency appeal can be found on
www.unsystemmoz.org


HEALTH: 2.4 million

6. UNICEF, MoH and NGOs will focus on threats a) of malnutrition and of
outbreak of diseases, malaria, bubonic plague b) to reduction in access to
basic health care facilities.


WATER AND SANITATION: million: 1.8

7. Main activities include: rapid assessment of water/sanitation
facilities, oral rehydration campaigns, provision of chlorine and
chlorofoc sachets, construction of temporary sanitation facilities.

8. MoH, Ministry of Public Works and NGOs are partners in the
implementation.


SHELTER: 0.2 million

9. This sector foresees the provision of basic shelter materials,
technical support to the existing shelter-coordination mechanisms of the
UN and the Government. Implementation by the Ministry of Public Works,
UNDP, MRC (Mozambican Red Cross) and IFRC


FOOD AND AGRICULTURE: 2.4 million

10. Food requirements for 155,000 people until 31 December 2001 have been
met.

11. Planned activities: assistance planning for 25,000 families at risk,
requiring 33,000 agricultural kits with seeds and tools.

12. MoA, FAO,WFP and NGOs in partnership


EDUCATION: 0.514 million

13. Etimated 50,000 primary school students are being prevented from
school attendance.  Ministry of Education, UNICEF will provide learning
materials for over 180 schools, basic cleaning kits and provision of
temporary classrooms.


LOGISTICS/TRASNPORTATION: 2.6 million

14. Focus is rescue of stranded flood victims and provision of immediate
assistance. Since road systems heavily damaged, air support is imperative
for an estimated 30 days.

15. Main partners :INGC, WFP


IN-CONTRY COORDINATION: 0.684 million

16. The current arrangements include a coordination centre, supported by
OCHA and located in the office of the UNRC, in Maputo. It is staffed with
a coordination advisor, a communication officer, a data specialist and a
public relations officer. Regional coordination offices have been
established in Beira and Quelimane with the INGC.

17.  INGC-working groups and UN sector clusters are coordinating:
logistics, food, water and health and shelter issues. This network is
effective in bringing together the major operators, i.e. UN agencies, the
INGC, MRC, DFID, USAID, South African Defense Forces and NGOs.

18.The overall monitoring and coordination responsibility of the relief
efforts, for which funds are being sought by this appeal, will be with the
UNRC, OCHA, the UNDMT, INGC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


APPEAL MANAGEMENT

19.UN-agencies Maputo will implement the appeal in collaboration with
national counterparts and be responsible for monitoring progress of work.
Donors can contribute directly to UN agencies in charge of specific
sectors, the Government or to NGOs. OCHA, as usual, is willing to serve as
channel for un-earmarked contributions to be allocated in consultation
with the UNDMT, Maputo.

20.The requested items are locally available. Contributions are therefore
the most effective mode. Donors wishing to make in-kind contributions
should contact OCHA-Geneva or the responsible sectoral UN agency for
guidance.

21.This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at:
http://www.reliefweb.int.


Telephone number: + 41-22-917-1234
Telex 41 42 42 ocha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org


In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010

Desk Officers:  Mr.  Klaus Wiersing/Ms.  Yasuko Sawada, Disaster
Direct Tel: + +41 22 917 2270/41 22 917 1768

Response Branch,
Contact person for the media: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli,
direct tel: +41-22-917-2653


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