OCHA Situation Report No. 9
Mozambique - Floods
12 March 2001


Situation

1.  On 8 March, a tropical depression caused torrential rain in Nampula
and Cabo Delgado provinces, reportedly killing two persons.  The
depression became a full-fledged cyclone and moved southeast, heading off
the coast of Madagascar.  Cyclone Dera spared the flood-ravaged areas of
Mozambique. The latest information indicates that Dera is at sea, in the
south of Madagascar. The forecast until 17 March is for showers or
thunderstorms over upland areas in the provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado,
and Nampula, and coastal areas of Sofala and Zambezia provinces.

2.  The Cahora Bassa dam is discharging 9,000m3/s.  Rainfalls in the
neighboring countries may further increase the water levels in the Zambezi
River.  As of 10 March, the water levels are above the flood-alert level
in Zumbo, Tete, Mutarara, Caia, and Marromeu in the Zambezi River basin.  
The Pungoe River was above flood level, hindering road access from Beira.  
The Save River has gone down rapidly from its peak on 6 March, while the
level is still high.  The latest figures released by the Government show
89,894 people displaced and 494,500 affected in the four provinces of
Manica, Sofala, Tete, and Zambezia.  75 deaths were registered.


National and International Response

3.  Relief efforts are concentrated on evacuation of people (some 50,000)
at risk in the valley and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the
displaced/evacuees.  Lack of access by road is a matter of concern. The
following roads are cut off: the road from Beira to Caia and Marromeu via
Muanza and Cheringoma; the road from Beira to Maputo (Inchope area), the
road between Caia and Chemba; and the road between Sena and Mutarare. The
following boats are now provided by the National Institute for Disaster
Management (INGC), Portuguese Civil Protection, IFRC, MSF, Food for the
Hungry and World Vision International: 15 boats in Marromeu, six boats in
Caia, three boats in Chemba, four boats in Mutarara, two boats in Tambara,
two boats in Machanga.  Currently, 10 helicopters are available in Beira,
Tete and Quelimane.  Two additional helicopters (DFID funded) are on
stand-by in South Africa.  The South African Air Force maintains its
contingent of aircraft based out of Beira until 15 March.

4.  The Prime Minister visited Beira, following his visit to Tete and
Manica provinces, and highlighted this need for strengthening the
coordination from Beira as the centre of the relief operations.  The
Minister of Public Works & Housing has been sent to oversee the relief
operations together with the Governor of Sofala province.  The Director of
the INGC accompanied by his deputies was also in Beira to assist the
coordination efforts. Communication and coordination of relief efforts
among the four affected provinces needs to be improved.  In this regard,
additional INGC officers will be placed in Beira.  OCHA funded four
officers, who will be placed in the four affected provinces to strengthen
coordination efforts in close cooperation with the provincial authorities.

5.  Assessments in the affected areas to verify the numbers of displaced
and affected in need of assistance are on-going.  OCHA Data/Assessment
Coordinator was in Beira to assist in developing a database which contains
information on the numbers and location of the displaced and the stocks
and location of food and non-food items.  The INGC will assign a database
processor, who will be trained by the Coordinator.

6.  In order to ensure adequate conditions for the displaced in
accommodation centres, the Government, UN agencies and NGOs have agreed to
standadised management procedures, for ex.. each centre should consist of
200 tents for 1,000 persons.  The guidelines on logistics, communication
and database have been produced in English and in Portuguese, to be
circulated among partners in Maputo as well as the affected areas.

7.  Health, Shelter, Water & Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion require an
urgent response.  Health personnel based in the affected area are
supporting immunization, as well as malaria and diarrhea prevention.
UNICEF has provided 10 tents as temporary health posts.  Another 40 tents
are being pre-positioned for distribution as the situation dictates.
UNICEF has also been distributing health kits.  The Provincial Directorate
of Public Works and Housing with UNICEF is engaged in provision of
chlorine, chlorofloc sachets, jerry cans and water bladders.  Hygiene
promotion teams are active in the affected areas.


International Assistance

8.  The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) sent a Water and
Sanitation Assessment Team.  The team is assessing and identifying the
needs in cooperation with the German Red Cross.  THW is planning to deploy
Water-and Sanitation-Experts together with water purification-units
shortly.

9.  The Governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States have
pledged or provided cash and/or in-kind contributions bilaterally or
through NGOs or the UN System.

10.  On 9 March, in Geneva, OCHA convened an information meeting for
donors and partners on the flooding situation.  The Charge d'Affaires of
the Permanent Mission of Mozambique was present.  The Assistant Emergency
Relief Coordinator gave a presentation on his recent mission to the area.
On the same day, OCHA put a six-member UNDAC Team as well as UNDAC support
Modules on stand-by, to assist the UN Country Team, in view of cyclone
Dera.

11.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with
relevant organisations in the United Nations system.  Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: "OCHA -
Mozambique - floods 2001".  OCHA provides donors with written confirmation
and pertinent details concerning the utilisation of the funds contributed

12.  Information 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.

13.  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
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In  case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
Mr. K. Wiersing / Ms. Y. Sawada / Mr. M. Bonnel
direct Tel. +41 22 917 2270/1768/1457

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


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