General Information
The Government of Mozambique on 21 February
launched a special appeal for emergency assistance over the next three
months to deal with the developing flood crisis in the centre of the country.
The following is a summary of the emergency appeal, which seeks a total
of US$ 30 million.
The United Nations agencies in Mozambique are now working together to issue a detailed inter-agency appeal that will support and complement the government's efforts to evacuate the population at risk, provide relief supplies to people already displaced and assist peasant farmers to restore their livelihoods.
Special Appeal by the Government of Mozambique for Emergency Flood Relief: 21 February - 21 May 2001 (Summary)
The forecast made by the Southern African Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) last September of normal to above-normal rainfall in the south and centre of Mozambique during the 2000/2001 rainy season has proved correct. The country has been facing an emergency situation since 23 January, initially in Zambezia Province and then in northern parts of Sofala Province, resulting from the passage of a tropical storm.
The situation then spread to Tete and Manica provinces, because of heavy rainfall in the country, discharge from dams on the Zambezi River and increased flows on its tributaries, mainly the Chire, Revubue and Aruangwa Rivers. Thus districts in four provinces have been affected in the Zambezi Valley.
As a result of the combined effects of the rain and the floods, some 70,000 people have been displaced and about 400,000 in the four provinces are affected. Moreover, by 19 February the number of confirmed deaths stood at 41.
Many roads in the centre of the country have become impassable, wells in rural and peri-urban areas have been flooded and the sanitary conditions in urban centres have deteriorated.
Immediately following the SARCOF forecast, the government began working on the preparation of a contingency plan, in partnership with the United Nations, donors and NGOs. From October to December 2000 public awareness campaigns were conducted in areas at risk and the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and the World Food Programme (WFP) positioned stocks of food and relief goods, including boats, in strategic locations.
Besides heavy rains inside Mozambique itself, neighbouring Malawi and Zambia have also experienced torrential rain, producing enormous volumes of water that increased the flows in the Zambezi, Pungoe, Revubue and Ligonha Rivers. While it is not expected that floods this year will reach the scale of 2000, nevertheless conditions must be prepared in the affected districts to avoid this emergency from becoming a catastrophe.
Humanitarian assistance must be transported to where it is needed, before the contingency stocks of pre-positioned items run out. Funding for transport requirements is therefore estimated at US$ 7.2 million.
Floods increase the risk of outbreaks of disease, such as cholera, and of higher incidence of malaria. The health authorities estimate that US$ 5.9 million will be needed to replenish stocks of essential drugs, to provide basic health services in the accommodation centres, and to support epidemiological surveillance and preventive response.
Moreover, torrential rain and floods have damaged roads and bridges, which must be repaired to allow access to isolated communities. Some US$ 4.7 million is required for road and bridge repair.
Furthermore, displaced people need to be sheltered and fed while they are in accommodation centres. The cost of supplying blankets, plastic sheeting, kitchen kits and other essential relief items is estimated at US$3.6 million.
With regard to fuel needs, the cost of this is estimated at US$3.0 million, to cover requirements for rescue and relief operations and for electricity generation in areas isolated by the floods. This sum includes generators of varying power that will be needed to ensure electricity supplies to hospitals, accommodation centres, water pumping stations and communications centres.
Clean water supplies and appropriate sanitary and hygiene conditions are likewise vital to ensure that the displaced population remains healthy. The requirements for the provision of safe water and sanitation and the promotion of good hygiene amount to US$2,400,000.
The economic and social effects of this excessive rainfall have likewise been huge. Preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development indicate that about 44,000 peasant farming families have been affected, with the loss of 27,000 hectares of crops, mainly maize, rice and cassava. In Zambezia Province alone, crop losses are estimated at 23,000 hectares.
The cost of providing seeds and tools so that farmers can plant a second crop is estimated at US$2.3 million. The Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development is already in contact with donors and part of these funds have already been allocated.
The funds required to enable the INGC to coordinate emergency operations, monitor and evaluate the situation on the ground, produce and disseminate information on the development of the situation and coordinate alert and warning systems with the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) and the Ministry of Public Works & Housing, as well ensuring flexible mechanisms to allow people and goods to enter the country in the context of humanitarian assistance, amount to US$700,000. However, the estimate could rise if conditions deteriorate sharply.
Because of the upheaval caused by displacement, the government is seeking US$200,000 for social programmes among the displaced population in the accommodation centres.
The statement of needs in the Mozambique government appeal does not include food. This is because the WFP had pre-positioned food stocks in strategic locations and is still working with carry-over supplies from 2000. In fact, the requirements expressed in the appeal are in addition to assistance provided and pre-positioned by the other United Nations agencies and are part of implementing the UN Contingency planning process finalised in December 2000.
Summary table of requirements (excluding food)
| Sector |
Requirement (US$)
|
| Transport |
7,200,000
|
| Health |
5,900,000
|
| Roads & Bridges |
4,700,000
|
| Shelter & Accommodation |
3,600,000
|
| Fuels & energy |
3,000,000
|
| Water & Sanitation |
2,400,000
|
| Seeds & Tools |
2,300,000
|
| Coordination |
700,000
|
| Women & Social Welfare |
200,000
|
| Total |
30,000,000
|
UN Resident Coordinator's Office
09 February 2001
Maputo
UNITED NATIONS
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