HIGHLIGHTS

• Madagascar:

The first round of presidential election is currently scheduled to be held on 24 July 2013. No decision yet on whether it will be postponed or not.

• Namibia:

On 17 May 2013 the President declared a national drought emergency and called for assistance from international community. An estimated 330,925 people have now been classified as food insecure - 14 percent of Namibia's 2,324 million people (total population)

HIGHLIGHTS

Namibia:

On 17 May 2013 the President on Namibia declared a national drought emergency and called for assistance from the international community. An estimated 330,925 people have now been classified as food insecure (14 % of Namibia’s total population of 2.324 million).

Madagascar:

Heavy rains continued for a second week across previously dry areas in western Ethiopia and South Sudan.

1) Poorly distributed and significantly below average seasonal rainfall has resulted in deteriorating ground conditions since January. This has negatively impacted crops and livestock throughout many parts of southern Angola and northern Namibia.

Comoros: Flash Flooding

On Grande Comore island, heavy rains between 30 April and 1 May caused some rivers to overflow. An estimated 172 families were affected, of which 82 families had to stay with community members. Some affected people have already started returning to their homes. Government, with support from partners, is assisting those affected. A request for international assistance is not expected.

Mozambique: Early Recovery Strategy

1) Poorly distributed and significantly below average seasonal rainfall has resulted in deteriorating ground conditions since January. This has negatively impacted crops and livestock throughout many parts of southern Angola and northern Namibia.

2) Little to no rainfall since the second dekad of March has been received across portions of eastern Angola, and western Zambia. Late season moisture deficits indicate an early departure of the southern Africa monsoon in the region and may affect crops planted late in the season.

Regional: Dry Spell Prevails

FEWSNET has reported that a prolonged dry spell in the southern half of the region has resulted in moisture stress and potential crop yield reductions. Short-term rainfall forecasts suggest a continuation of dry conditions in areas already affected by the dry spell.The most affected areas include southern and central Zimbabawe, Botswana, Namibia, southern Mozambique, northern South Africa and southern Angola.

1) Heavy rain, during the past several weeks, has led to flooding, displacement of local population and cholera outbreaks in Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. Locally heavy rains are forecast across parts of Zambia, Malawi and northern Mozambique for a sixth consecutive week. With above-average ground moisture in place, the risk for flooding in the region remains high.

• Above-average weekly rains added on to already large seasonal rainfall surpluses in northern Mozambique.

• Below-average rains in Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Botswana have led to poor ground conditions.

Link: Malawi: Floods Report DREF Operation (MDRMW009)