General Information
The INGC has reported that the number of people displaced in Mozambique's four flood-affected provinces has risen to 235,000, of whom 180,000 are in temporary accommodation centres. There are 124 accommodation centres but merging and consolidating smaller centres to facilitate logistics is reducing this number.
Care International has been given responsibility for the management of humanitarian assistance in Chinde district, Zambezia province.
The Sofala and Zambezia emergency coordination teams, including INGC, OCHA, WFP, UNICEF and senior local government officials met in Mopeia district, Zambezia province to evaluate the situation of the displaced population in Zambezia being transferred to accommodation centres at Chupanga and Nensa in Sofala province. Since these centres are already becoming overcrowded, it was agreed that a new accommodation centre would be prepared in Marromeu district, on the south bank of the Zambezi in Sofala province.
Continuing rain is aggravating conditions in the accommodation centres in the Zambezi valley, since shelter materials are in short supply as are water supply and sanitation materials.
Work is under way to improve the social and physical organisation of the accommodation centres. For example, in Zambezia province, households are being grouped according to their home area and each group should elect their representative. The elected representative is responsible for dealing with a member of the district government or the province's technical council for disaster management seconded to the centre.
At the INGC international coordination meeting on 22 March, the INGC director asked participants to begin giving consideration to the next phase in this emergency operation which will be to resettle the displaced population.
Key Issues
- Growing population in accommodation centres stretches capacity to respond to humanitarian needs
- Planning for resettlement of displaced population
Weather Forecast
On Friday and Saturday, most of central and southern Mozambique, south of around 17S, is expected to be dry with plenty of sunshine. During the same period a band of persistent and locally heavy rain is expected to lie over the east and north of South Africa. This is likely to bring some significant accumulations to eastern parts of South Africa, some of this rainfall draining into the Limpopo River. Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected over northern Mozambique, the showers rather more frequent over Zambia and Zimbabwe. By Sunday 25 March scattered showers and thunderstorms can be expected in most areas, these becoming more extensive and heavy from Monday 26 March with some locally significant accumulations.
River information
Zambezi River and Cahora Bassa: The inflow to Cahora Bassa measured 11,703 cubic metres on 21 March, while the outflow was 6,651 cubic metres.
Logistics
The following table summarises the joint logistic operations from both Quelimane and Beira, including data for WFP, Air Serv, and the South African and Mozambican air forces, up to 11 March.
Emergency air operations to 11 March
|
WFP
|
Air Serv
|
SAAF
|
MAF
|
Total
|
|
| Hours |
238.5
|
95.6
|
227.8
|
-
|
561.9
|
| Fuel (l) |
139,734.0
|
-
|
109,372.0
|
55,800
|
304,906
|
| Food (t) |
354.9
|
3.8
|
26.066
|
34.15
|
418.91
|
| Non-food (t) |
121.86
|
2.28
|
174.244
|
10.750
|
309.134
|
| Passengers |
714
|
215
|
248
|
743
|
1,920
|
| Rescued |
277
|
-
|
357
|
440
|
1,074
|
A report from the INGC indicates that of the 2,366 km of roads damaged by floods and rains in Zambezia province, 41 km have been repaired and re-opened.
Food
WFP and INGC have agreed on guidelines for criteria in selecting beneficiaries in the flood-affected areas. The types of flood-affected population are divided into five categories.
1. Displaced in accommodation centres: people who were evacuated without any resources.
2. Displaced in isolated areas: people caught by surprise in isolated places such as islands.
3. Geographically isolated groups: people who were evacuated as a preventive measure with some of their belongings and with limited access to food.
4. People hosted by relatives (social/solidarity networks), including people displaced from risk areas.
5. Households who lost assets:
a. Standing crops and food stocks
b. Productive assets (e. g. livestock & tools)
c. Housing and utensils.
During assessment, the following criteria should be used to determine the category:
1. Displacement and period of time during which the group has been displaced.
2. Constraints on satisfying food and other basic needs (water, sanitation, health and shelter).
3. Access to effective coping mechanisms, including being hosted by relatives.
4. Severity of asset loss.
The guidelines note that gender and child related vulnerability must be considered, including for example limited access to coping mechanisms and resources, additional workload, exposure to physical or psychological pressures and risks. The information gathered is used to prioritise the distribution of aid commodities.
The Prime Minister visited affected areas in Zambezia province on 18 March, including the Chire administrative post. A 7-day ration delivered for 3,000 people (12.5 tonnes) on 14 March was running out. The Prime Minister requested that further stocks be delivered. A 7-day ration for 5,500 people (21.2 tonnes) was delivered on 21 March. SCF is assisting with the distribution of food supplies.
Health & Hygiene
An assessment by WFP, WVI and INGC reported that around 8% of children in accommodation centres in Mutarara district in Tete province suffer from malnutrition. In Zambezia province, malnutrition is a concern in Mopeia district, where 20-25% of women and 8% of children are reported to be HIV positive. MSF is assisting the Ministry of Health to set up health posts in accommodation centres in Mopeia.
UNICEF has 7,000 insecticide treated mosquito nets available in Quelimane for distribution.
Stocks of chlorofloc for treating water are exhausted and UNICEF is waiting for INGC to process customs exemptions.
Shelter
UNDP is in the process of identifying what shelter materials have been distributed in the country. However, sufficient stocks exist to assist 200,000 people. A mission from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works is visiting various provinces to explain guidelines on setting up accommodation centres.
UN Resident Coordinator's Office
23 March 2001
Maputo
--------
UNITED NATIONS - NAÇÕES UNIDAS
Office of the Resident Coordinator MOZAMBIQUE
Av Kenneth Kaunda, 921/931 PO Box 4595 MAPUTO
Tel : 49 14 75 Telefax : 49 16 91 and 49 96 74
Website: www.unsystemmoz.org