Attachments
EARLY ACTION PROTOCOL
Summary of revisions to the operation
Mozambique Red Cross (CVM) has received confirmation from ARA Services that the flood trigger was reached on Friday 21 February, which led to the subsequent activation of the Early Action Protocol (EAP).
Following 24 hours of intense rainfall, river levels began to rise in the Limpopo Basin (in Gaza Province), posing immediate risk to multiple areas. At 06:00 on 21February, ARA data showed that there were only 52cm short of the trigger threshold at the Chokwé station – and the rainfall was predicted to intensify. Based on this forecast, the EAP was activated on a ‘no regret’ basis, given the extreme vulnerability of communities in the Tchaimite and Sede administrative posts of the Chibuto District.
At 16:00, the EAP was triggered in the Licungo Basin (in Zambezia Province), based on river levels.1 At the peak of flooding, approximately 219.000 people could be affected in the district of Maganja da Costa and 232.000 people in the district of Chibuto.
The Intervention area for Licungo Basin is Nante (Muebene, Muagane and Murruto) and for the Limpopo River basin, the activation was planned to take place around Chibuto district: 1. administrative post of Chaimite (Sanguate and Guve Guve), 2. administrative post of Chibuto (Massuco, Chidinuane, Lheiambe, Maguigue, Mondeiane). While the distribution of warning messages and evacuation support took place in Zambézia and Gaza, the distribution of relief goods was carried out only in Zambézia on the scheduled dates as planned.
In Gaza Province, the goods did not reach their intended destinations due to protests, forcing the trucks to return to base. However, the volunteers in Gaza were successfully equipped. As soon as security conditions were reestablished, the CVM resumed the distribution process for the goods that could not be delivered on the originally planned dates. Consequently, on 1 and 2 March 2025, the distribution of relief items was successfully carried out in the initially planned communities.
A total of 400.000 people were reached with early warning messages, some of which have been supported to evacuate in advance of the peak of the floods. The activities in both Zambezia and Gaza were carried out by 7 local staff and 60 volunteers, with support from headquarters staff who reached the at-risk areas in advance of the floods to ensure preparedness.
With this operation’s update, CVM are requesting a no cost extension to the operational timeframe, instead of ending on 31 May 2025, the operational timeframe will now finish on 31 July 2025. The activation report will be published 3 months after the end of the operational timeframe, on 31 October 2025. For more information on the extension, please see the partnership and coordination section, under the enabling approaches.