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Mozambique

Mozambique - Floods and Cyclone Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year (FY) 2007

Attachments

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

BACKGROUND AND KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Between December 2006 and February 2007, heavy rains across northern and central Mozambique, together with severe rainfall in neighboring countries, led to flooding along the Zambezi River Basin in Tete, Manica, Sofala, and Zambezia provinces. According to the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC), the flooding affected an estimated 285,000 people, including more than 163,000 people who sought shelter in GRM-managed accommodation and resettlement centers. These rains closely followed earlier flooding from October to December 2006, which affected 46,500 people. On February 4, the INGC activated its national disaster response plan and began evacuating populations from low-lying communities in the Zambezi River basin.

On February 22, 2007, Tropical Cyclone Favio made landfall in Vilankulo District, Inhambane Province, as the equivalent of a Category 4 storm, and continued through Sofala and Manica provinces. According to the INGC, the cyclone killed 9 people and affected more than 160,000 people, destroying crops and threatening local food security. Following the cyclone, the INGC, together with the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), implemented a response plan and provided food assistance to cyclone-affected populations.

On March 6, 2007, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Daniel Johnson declared a humanitarian emergency in Mozambique due to the flooding and cyclone. To date, USAID/OFDA has provided emergency relief supplies valued at $676,500 to affected populations.

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
SOURCE
Flood-Affected Population
331,500 people
INGC, March 5, 2007
Cyclone-Affected Population
162,770 people
INGC, March 5, 2007
Total Affected Population
494,370 people
INGC, March 5, 2007

FY 2007 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE

USAID/OFDA Assistance to Mozambique: $676,500

CURRENT SITUATION

On March 11, the U.N. released a $17.7 million flash appeal through the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) to fund relief and early recovery efforts in Mozambique, including food security, health, nutrition, shelter, child protection, education, logistics, and coordination activities.

On March 13, the GRM reported that the emergency response to the Zambezi flooding and Cyclone Favio had transitioned to a recovery and rehabilitation operation. The INGC reported that the disasters affected approximately 500,000 people. In total, the floods and cyclone caused approximately $71 million in damage to local infrastructure and destroyed 277,000 hectares of crops primarily in Vilanculos, Inhassoro, Govuro, and Masinga districts in Inhambane Province, according to the INGC.

Health

As a result of the flooding and cyclone, humanitarian agencies are concerned about the potential for outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, cholera, and acute diarrhea. Health cluster members, including the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), are responding to health and hygiene concerns through public awareness and health advocacy campaigns that include radio messages, community theater performances, and promotional material on good hygiene practices.

To address the increased risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, USAID/OFDA is providing $626,500 for the procurement and transportation of 50,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) to flood-affected populations. USAID/OFDA-partner Population Services International (PSI) is planning to distribute the ITNs in Chinde District, Zambezia Province; Caia, Chemba, and Marromeu districts, Sofala Province; and Tambara District, Manica Province.

MAP: USAID/OFDA Programs in Mozambique (as of 22 Mar 2007)