OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Mozambique: Floods
14 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The discharge rate of the Cahora Bassa dam was reduced from 8,400 to 
6,600 m3/s on Monday 12 February. Reduced rain, together with the 
reduction of the Cahora Bassa discharge rate, has allowed the water 
level to decrease in Tete city, while levels in Mutarara, Caia and 
Marromeu further downstream continue to rise. The peak of the current 
water rise in the lover Zambezi is predicted to happen sometime on 14 or 
15 February.

2. The influx of water into the reservoir does, however, remain high 
(around 10,000 m3/s). Therefore the abovementioned reduction might be a 
temporary relief, since more rain is predicted in the region. Moderate 
to heavy rains were registered in several locations in the Center and 
North of Mozambique during the past 48 hours.

3. As of 13 February, the National Institute for Disaster Management 
(INGC) estimates that approximately 74,000 people have been displaced 
due to the floods. An estimated 29,000 people are currently in 
accommodation centres and an undetermined number in resettlement centres 
that were established after the 2001 floods. INGC estimates that 285,000 
people may possibly be affected by the current emergency in the 
worst-case scenario.

RESPONSE

4. Building on initial assessments and response measures, a 
multi-sectoral assessment has been planned from 18-23 February by teams 
from the government, WFP, FAO, FewsNet and UNICEF. Affected areas to be 
covered include Magoe and Zumbu (Tete province), Tambara (Manica 
province), Chemba, Marromeu and Caia (Sofala province) and Mutarara, 
Mopeia, Morrumbala and Chinde (Zambezia province).  The assessment will 
also send a monitoring team to the district of Moma in Nampula province, 
where floods reportedly affected over 5,000 people in late January. WFP 
is contributing US$100,000 from its internal Immediate Response Account 
for this rapid assessment.

5. The INGC in Caia is developing plans of action for the distribution 
of supplies to accommodation centres. UNICEF has been requested to 
coordinate the development of the multi-sectoral plan of action in this 
respect, in conjunction with INGC, local authorities and NGOs.

6. Partners, including INGC, local authorities, UNICEF and NGO partners 
in Caia , continue to visit accommodation centres in the affected areas 
to assess immediate needs and monitor emergency response activities. 
Priority needs include tents, education materials, hygiene supplies, 
water treatment plants, jerry cans and buckets.

7. INGC conducted an assessment mission from Caia to Inhangoma with 
UNICEF. Inhangoma is currently only accessible by helicopter and an 
estimated 17-18,000 people are displaced in the area. Food and fuel for 
boats have been delivered and operations will be scaled up to address 
needs the accommodation centres in the area.

8. In addition to the team based in Caia, two emergency teams of UNICEF 
staff from various sectors were deployed to Tete and Quelimane on 14 
February, to support the ground assessments and response measures of 
government counterparts.  The team in Tete should arrive in Mutarara by 
Friday 16 February, while the team in Quelimane will cover affected 
areas in Zambezia province.

9. WFP is providing food assistance, logistics and communication, 
including an MI8 helicopter in Caia that is being used by the whole 
humanitarian community for rescues, assessments and delivery of food and 
NFIs. The food distributions in Mutarara are still ongoing for a planned 
6,100 people in accommodation centres. The Country Director visited Tete 
province with a group of donors on 13 February, and will fly over the 
Zambezi river valley and visit Caia on 14 February. A Public Information 
officer will join the group in Tete and stay in Caia for some days to 
coordinate media activities and provide communication support to INGC. 
In addition to regular in-country staff, WFP has 28 people working on 
the emergency.

10. On 27 January the IFRC provided CHF 37,000 from the Disaster 
Emergency Response Fund (DERF) to the Mozambique Red Cross Society 
(CVM). Due the deterioration of the situation, an additional CHF 150,000 
was released on 11 February. The IFRC and CVM are furthermore planning 
an appeal to fund shelter over an extended period, to cover the cost of 
tents, first-aid kits, water tanks, and water purification measures. 
Other items, such as axes and shovels to help people with resettlement 
once the waters recede, are also needed. An IFRC Fact Team is on the 
ground. The FACT will assist CVM with coordination, detailed 
assessments, as well as in developing a plan of action for response. A 
preliminary Emergency Appeal is expected to be launched shortly.

Coordination

11. National disaster response coordination is handled by the National 
Disaster Management Institute (INGC), which is placed under the umbrella 
of the Ministry of State Administration (MAE).

12. The UN Resident Coordinator, through the UN Disaster Management 
Team, coordinates UN support to the government.

13. An OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer has been in Maputo supporting 
the UN Country Team since 10 February. A second OCHA officer is due to 
arrive in Maputo on Thursday.

14. A meeting was convened by the Resident Coordinator's Office for all 
in-country UN and non-UN humanitarian actors on 13 February. During the 
meeting, partners agreed that the IASC cluster approach is the way 
forward for coordinating the response to the ongoing emergency. The key 
clusters, their leads and membership were discussed. The CERF appeal was 
also discussed and it was agreed that agencies submit their inputs by 
COB 15 February. The OCHA Officer will compile the inputs and facilitate 
the submission of the appeal by the RC.

15. UN agencies and partners are working on establishing coordination 
mechanisms in the areas of logistics, food security, telecommunications, 
water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, health, education, protection, 
shelter and early recovery in support of the Government response.


Contact Details:

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

UN Resident Coordinator (Mozambique)
  Mr. Ndolamb Ngokwey
   Tel: + 258-21-485-158

OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa (South Africa)
  Mr. Jean-Luc Tonglet
   Tel: + 27-11-517-1595

Desk Officer (New York)
  Ms. Aida Mengistu
   Tel: + 1-212-963-5145

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel: +1-917-367-5126

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -