OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Mozambique: Floods
16 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The discharge rate of the Cahora Bassa dam was reduced to 5,500 m3/s from 
Wednesday 14 February. Reduced rain, together with the reduction of the Cahora 
Bassa discharge rate, has allowed the water level to decrease in Tete city. 
However, heavy inflows from the Luia, Luenha, Revubue and Chire Rivers, which 
meet the Zambezi River further downstream, tend to keep water levels in the 
lower Zambezi high despite the reduction of dam discharges.

2. The National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) has reported that 
discharge from the Kariba dam in Zambia is likely to increase. However, as a 
result of improved coordination between the two countries and lower levels of 
water in the Cahora Bassa dam, it is expected that the additional inflow can be 
accommodated.

3. The National Meteorological Institute (INAM) informed that rains will reduce 
in central Mozambique over the next five days. However, heavy rains are 
expected along Zambezi basin between 21 and 28 February 2007, including in 
Zambia, which will affect the Zambezi River levels.

4. As of 15 February, INGC estimates that approximately 86,300 people have been 
displaced due to the floods. An estimated 37,000 people are currently in 
accommodation centres and more than 49,000 are in resettlement centres that 
were established after the 2001 floods. INGC estimates that, in the worst-case 
scenario, 285,000 people may possibly be affected by the current emergency.

RESPONSE

5. Partners agreed to use the IASC cluster approach in order to ensure 
coordinated support to the government. The decision to activate the cluster 
approach was formally communicated by the UN Resident Coordinator to the 
Emergency Relief Coordinator on Wednesday, 14 February.

6. The clusters, which partners agreed to activate, and their respective leads 
are as follows: Logistics (WFP), Food Security (WFP/FAO), Telecommunications 
(WFP), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (UNICEF), Nutrition (UNICEF), Health 
(WHO), Education (Save the Children Alliance/ UNICEF), Protection (Save the 
Children Alliance/ UNICEF), Shelter (IFRC/ Mozambican Red Cross), Early 
Recovery (UNDP).

7. Following activation of the approach, partners have worked on 
operationalising coordination mechanisms and identifying membership for the 
respective clusters.

8. The preparation of a CERF application, which will serve to continue 
emergency operations while other funding avenues are being explored, is almost 
completed. Cluster groups have met over the past three days to prepare their 
inputs. As a result, it is expected that the CERF application will be based on 
priorities determined by all cluster participants, channeled through the 
cluster leads. The proposal is due for submission on Monday, 19 February.

9. A meeting with the donors took place on Wednesday, 14 February with the 
objectives of providing a briefing on the emergency situation and informing 
them of the establishment of the Cluster Approach and preparation of a CERF 
proposal. The Resident Coordinator represented the UN system and Save the 
Children Alliance, IFRC and Oxfam represented the NGO community.

Coordination

10. 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).

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


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


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