From IFRC WEEKLY NEWS 06/00
An appeal for 2,500,000 Swiss francs
has been launched by the International Federation after flash floods caused
by three successive days of torrential rain have left more than 21 people
dead and 200,000 homeless. The Federation has already released 100,000
Swiss francs from its emergency funds. The worst affected areas are in
Maputo and Gaza Provinces, with many towns left without drinking water
after pumps and purification plants were washed away. The Mozambiquan
government, which has declared these areas a national disaster region,
has asked for technical assistance from South Africa, which has also been
badly hit by the floods. Mozambique Red Cross officials are working in
collaboration with the government and other relief organisations to evacuate
flood victims, provide food and shelter. The MRCS is also providing first-aid
and carrying out public health education campaigns. With more heavy rainfall
forecast, authorities are expecting cases of diarrhoea, cholera and malaria
to rise dramatically. The MRCS is also working to provide clean drinking
water for victims and a regional water sanitation delegate is now in the
country. With more than 100,000 people homeless in Matola and nearly 100,000
in Maputo city, the immediate need is for shelter, blankets and clean water
and sanitation facilities. The participation of the MRCS in the floods
disaster came as the government in Maputo officially recognised the Mozambique
Red Cross as a "collective person of public utility".
WEEKLY NEWS IS PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES
17 Chemin des Crêts, Geneva
Tel: (41 22) 730 4222
Fax: (41 22) 733 0395
E-mail: weeklynews@ifrc.org