MAPUTO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Around 350,000 people in Mozambique need food aid because of poor harvests, but the U.N. World Food Programme is running short of funds, a WFP official said on Tuesday.

Central and southern regions have had less than half their normal rainfall since October and the southern African country may be heading for its third consecutive year of drought despite recent rains in some areas.

WFP spokesman Peter Transburg said 350,000 people in seven provinces needed food aid.

"We are $8.5 million short for our

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One thing is certain: Climate change is happening and one of its visible impacts is the increasing numbers of persons displaced by natural disasters that can be linked to climate change. What is also clear is that we are only partially equipped adequately to deal with this challenge and are required to develop appropriate humanitarian

VILANKULO, Mozambique, March 18, 2008 (AFP) - Little more than a year after Cyclone Favio ripped through Mozambique's premier tourist resort of Vilankulo, the town still resembles a refugee camp as it struggles to recover.

With faded tents and roofless, unused buildings a stark reminder of the damage inflicted by Favio, residents breathed a sigh of relief when another cyclone headed their way was downgraded Friday to a tropical depression.

Cautious inhabitants thronged internet cafes over the weekend to keep a close eye on weather service sites to

Total WFP Caseload: 471,000 ongoing relief (2007 floods, cyclone and drought recovery)  *See note in Target populations/beneficiaries

Total food distributed: 25,600 metric tons (emergency response, Feb-Dec 2007)

Staff on location: 46 (including 7 international, 5 local recruitments, 19 core staff and 15 national UNV district Food Aid Monitors)

In country stocks: 3,622 mt (PRRO, as of 22 January)

1. HIGHLIGHTS

As of 24 January, approximately 18,798 households, 89,270 people, have moved to resettlement centres as a result

Vous trouverez ci-après le texte intégral des observations du Secrétaire général de l'ONU, M. Ban Ki-moon, à l'occasion de l'Appel humanitaire consolidé pour 2008, à Genève le 23 janvier:

J'ai le privilège de prendre part au lancement de l'Appel global pour 2008 en m'adressant à vous, qui êtes les piliers de la communauté humanitaire mondiale. Votre générosité a permis de sauver un nombre incalculable de vies et de donner espoir à des millions d'êtres humains.

Nous sommes réunis aujourd'hui au nom

"The water levels in four of the main river systems are way above the critical level," said Paulo Zucula, National Director for the Disaster Management Institute (INGC), told IRIN. The main river valleys Zambezi, Pungue, Buzi and Save - all in central Mozambique - which have already flooded and affected more than 50,000 people, have been put on red alert.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

Current context

Seasonal cyclones are a recurrent threat

In 2007, flood and wind damage caused by heavy rain and cyclones destroyed the livelihoods of more than one million people across the region.

Among other commitments, the emergency responders agreed in a draft Declaration of Intent to share information and capacities for emergency response, establish regional rapid response