Disaster

In late January 2012, Tropical Cyclone Funso swept past the coast of Mozambique, pouring down heavy rains that resulted in flooding throughout central areas of the country. In Zambézia Province alone, the cyclone affected some 67,000 people and damaged or destroyed more than 13,000 homes constructed of traditional housing materials, such as mud, stones, sun-baked bricks, and thatch. Many already vulnerable families were left without roofs over their heads and limited resources to rebuild.

This update is issued by the OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA). It covers the period of 01 March to 04 April 2012. The timing of the next report will depend on changes in flood conditions.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

• No reports of new flooding have been received in the past three weeks, and no new cyclones have formed over the south-west Indian Ocean.

• Flood conditions persist in northern Namibia.

• Between April and June, normal to below normal rainfall is forecasted for most of the region.

High food prices and a delayed harvest as assistance programs end

Key Messages

• An MVAC assessment report released in March estimated that that 272,502 people would be food insecure during the December. April period, an increase of more than 70,000 people since 2011. However, due to delays in releasing the results, the ongoing humanitarian response program does not fully cover the estimated population in need.

Key Messages

• Maize prices remained stable during the last quarter of 2011 and beginning of 2012.

• Overall food security is satisfactory, but some 250,000 people, mostly from the southern provinces, were affected by production losses in 2011, and require assistance.

• At the beginning of 2012, tropical cyclones caused localized flooding with consequent crop damage in the southern areas.

Rainfall deficits continue in the central and southern areas

Key Messages

• The most likely scenario described in the FEWS NET February Outlook report is still valid, particularly for the drought scenario. The persistent and significant rainfall deficits in parts of the central zone and much of the southern zone have led to below-average crop yields during the 2011/12 cropping season. However, the majority of households, including those in drought-affected areas, are generally food secure (IPC Phase 1).

Minimal acute food insecurity across the region

Currently, most parts of the region remain generally food secure, despite the current peak of the lean season. The green harvest and targeted food distribution programs are helping to ameliorate acute food insecurity in areas facing food shortages due to poor harvests during the last agricultural production season.

 I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Uneven distribution of rains result in mixed prospects for 2011/12 maize crop

• Monthly maize prices increased rapidly at the end of 2011, but dipped in February 2012

• Exports of maize suspended temporarily

• High prices negatively impact on food security conditions in southern districts

Irregular rains in southern parts result in flooding and dry spells