Mozambique: Floods [DHA-02: 28-Feb-97]
Mozambique: Floods [DHA-02: 28-Feb-97]
United Nations
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
MOZAMBIQUE - FLOODS
DHA SITUATION REPORT NO. 2
28 FEBRUARY 1997
1. Current situation
Present tendency is for water to recede. There has been no
rain for four days in the provinces of Sofala and Tete,
while some rains have been recorded in Zambezia. People are
still being rescued in Zambezia as helicopters begun
operating in that area only recently. An air-bridge to
Sofala has provided 14 MT of relief food. The number of
those most affected, requiring priority assistance, is 11,
300 in Tete and 15,000 in Sofala. Assessment of number of
affected in Manica and Zambezia will be completed next
week.
2. Government Appeal
On 24 February 1997 the Government of Mozambique launched
an appeal, valued at USD 30 million, covering short and
medium-term needs for repairing structural damages and
meeting the requirements of the population living in the
floods affected regions. The appeal was issued at a
meeting of donors in Maputo to which the UN system was
represented.
The appeal identifies some 300,000 people in need of
assistance in the flooded provinces of Zambezia, Tete,
Manica and Sofala. Also included in this number are the
Mozambicans from Tete and Zambezia who have crossed into
Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Requirements, as indicated by the Government, include
food, medicine, seeds, and funds for transport of
emergency items and rehabilitation of roads and bridges.
The appeal indicates that a FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply
Assessment mission would be scheduled in April 1997 to
re-assess the situation and to better define the medium-
term needs and the potential longer-term crop and food
supply availability.
3. UN Response
The United Nations in Maputo, in order to respond
adequately to the consequences of the floods, established
a technical group (consisting of FAO, DHA, UNICEF, WHO
and UNDP) which analyzed the requirement by sector and
formulated a comprehensive strategy to address the more
pressing needs of those most at risk.
With reference to health, the technical group considered
that the floods might be expected to provoke significant
increases in malaria, cholera and diarrheic diseases. WHO
is working closely with Ministry of Health and is
coordinating activities with UNICEF in preventing possible
epidemics. The Ministry convened a meeting of donors on 26
February 1997 to present the needs of the sector.
UNICEF has planned and/or already started the following
interventions:
$10,000 to DPCCN for assessment
$20,000 for epidemiological surveillance
$30,000 Cholera preparation (kits) and therapy
$50,000 Malaria control (mainly spraying)
$20,000 rehabilitation of buildings/Zambezia
$10-15,000 emergency school kits for restarting school
activities.
WFP is providing assistance to 51,500 beneficiaries within
existing emergency programme. The programme can increase to
100,000 beneficiaries, if necessary, which will imply a
budget of approx. USD 1,700,000. Priority areas of food
needs are presently covered through joint action by WFP,
GTZ and other NGOs. WFP considers the food situation
presently under control. However, the exact numbers of
beneficiaries and resources required will have to wait
until the FAO/WFP crop assessment mission in April. WFP is
also scheduling a sectorial meeting with food aid donors.
FAO estimates that in total 100,000 hectares have been
flooded in the four provinces; however, not all flooded
areas are cultivated. In the agricultural sector, needs
are probably closer to somewhere between 1000 to 2000
tonnes of seed to cover immediate requirements and to
provide assistance for second seeding season. Seeds will
need to be distributed as soon as possible, as planting can
only continue until April. Joint FAO/WFP food assessment
mission to take place in April will provide a more reliable
estimate of seed requirements.
A UN/Donor meeting is scheduled next week in Maputo to
assess the situation and possible outstanding requirements
in light of resources available in-country.
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For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform
DHA Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral relief
missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding
values by item.
Telephone number: +41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: +41-22-917-2010
Desk Officer: Mr. Thomas Peter, direct tel: +41-22-917-3143
Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct tel: +41-
22-917-2856
Telex: 41 42 42 dha ch
Fax: +41-22-917-0023
E-Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org
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