- Brief description of the emergency and impact
Mozambique
On 15 January 2012, tropical storm “Dando” hit Mozambique. This is the first storm to hit the southern part of Mozambique (Gaza/Maputo) since tropical storm “Domoina” in 1984. The emergency alert in the country has been raised to orange level, meaning that multiple agencies are preparing for a potential emergency response. However the Technical Council of Disaster Management (CTGC) is considering issuing a red alert. In their situation report number 1, of 20 January 2012, the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator in Maputo, reports that tropical storm Dando “caused flooding and damage to houses and schools in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane in Southern Mozambique.”
CTGC which is made up of staff from the government of Mozambique and members of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) are currently meeting daily to share information and consider reports from the affected areas.
According to information shared in the coordination meetings and the ACT member assessments; in Maputo province 247 houses were flooded, 2 houses destroyed, and 1235 people affected. In Gaza province 4 deaths were recorded, 2640 houses partially destroyed, 116 houses completely destroyed, 1014 houses flooded, 169 classrooms damaged, including 5 health centres, 214 toilets and 6 worship houses.
Malawi
According to meteorological weather forecasts in Malawi, a storm in Mozambique which seems to have changed course is having flooding effects on Malawi. Heavy rains have been continuous in parts of Mulanje, Blantyre, Chiradzulu and Thyolo in the southern region of Malawi. This has caused increased water flows to Nsanje and Chikwawa resulting in swelling up of streams and flooding downstream. This coupled with heavy rains experienced in traditional authority Mbenje in Nsanje district since 19 January, Phokera community has been affected. On the evening of Friday 20 January, 83 houses were reported to have collapsed as result of rains and the number is forecasted to increase. The affected households have sought refuge from relatives while others have sought refuge from the nearby primary school. The affected households are in a difficult situation though figures are yet to be established.
The main tarmac road passing through the area (Bangula-Nsanje Road) was nearly washed away such that a concrete bridge in the vicinity has been lowered down and dislodged due to river flooding.