Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 10

Ref: OCHA/GVA-2000/0032
Mozambique - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 10
27 February 2000

Situation

1. This report represents an update of the information received from WFP, UNICEF, IFRC, the UK Department for International Development and the media reports. In view of the worsening situation, as outlined below, donors are urged to respond quickly and generously to the International Appeal launched in Maputo on 23 February and to the new requirements.

2. Heavy rains in Zimbabwe and South Africa increased the water level of the Save river and the Limpopo river causing further flooding in downstream in Inhambane and Gaza provinces in Mozambique. In Inhambane province, two towns, Nova Mambone and Machanga, are heavily affected by the floods. According to the Government, some 17,000 people in the Save River Valley are marooned waiting to be rescued. Flooding of the Limpopo river in Gaza province prompted an evacuation of people from Chokwe district north of the capital Maputo.

3. The priority need is now to rescue stranded people by air. As many roads have been cut off and bridges have been washed away, air transport is the only option for rescue and relief. However, at the moment, the Government and aid agencies have a very limited logistic capacity to carry out search and rescue operations and continue distributing relief items at the same time. In this regard, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has pledged a further amount of USD 1 million to support WFP's logistics. According to WFP Maputo, additional USD 2 million (over and above requirements indicated in the Inter-Agency Appeal) is needed immediately in order to intensify air search and rescue operations and airlift life-saving relief supplies. Helicopters can be made available from South Africa.

4. IFRC reported that a one-meter crest of the Limpopo river is expected to travel down to Xai-Xai over the week, which means that all of Gaza province could be inundated once again.

5. The overflowing of Zambeze river running from Zambia will force Cabora Basso dam to discharge water, which will cause flooding of northern Sofala and the southern part of Zambezia, IFRC reported.

OCHA UNDAC Team

6. OCHA has decided to send 5 member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (including 3 members from the previous mission) to assist the UN Resident Coordinator's office and the Government. The UK DFID are sending 2 logistic experts to work with UNDAC team and WFP.

7. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in co-ordination with the relevant organisations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA Account No. CO-590.160.1 SWIFT-code UBSWCHZ12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Mozambique - Floods 2000.

8. For co-ordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding value by item.

9. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above mentioned Financial Tracking Website.

10. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone number: + 41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010

Desk Officers: Ms. Yasuko Sawada, Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel: + 41 22 917 1768

Contact person for the media: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct tel: +41-22-917-2653

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Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org