Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 6

Ref: OCHA/GVA-2000/0020
Mozambique - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 6
15 February 2000

Situation

1. Following arrival in Mozambique, UNDAC Team met the Government, UN Disaster Management Team, donors and NGOs and established co-operation with 2-member DFID team. UNDAC Team conveyed information on disaster situation. Current estimates put the number of flood victims in Maputo and Gaza provinces at 200,000. Cholera and malaria cases are being reported in the press and by agencies. The Ministry of Health with WHO and MSF is developing a cholera prevention plan. UNICEF has been co-ordinating activities in water and sanitation sector in co-operation with MSF, the Mozambique Red Cross and Oxfam.

Maputo province:

Continued rainfall makes access to the affected areas by road very difficult. The national road in the northern part of the province is cut off.

Maputo: Approximately 4,000 displaced people are now accommodated and receiving assistance in 4 schools. Another 4,000 persons are being relocated to a factory, to allow the schools, which have been used as shelter, to reopen for students. WFP and MSF have provided food and water to the displaced. The Mozambique Red Cross assists all centres. Medical teams make regular visits. The City Council indicated 400 tents, 40 mobile latrines, food, milk, clothes, blankets, construction material, and generators as urgent needs.

Matola: Matola, 25km west of Maputo, is housing some 5,000 people who receive assistance at centres.

In rural areas, some 80,000 persons in isolated sites are in need of assistance. The town of Sabie (total population: 9,000) had to be evacuated due to the rising water level.

Gaza province:

Vast areas of the province along the Limpopo River are flooded. Officials have warned that more floodwaters are flowing down the Limpopo River and are threatening the regional capital Xai-Xai. Xai-Xai airport is already under water and the road northwards is cut. Evacuating people by helicopter is a priority. Some 4,500 people are stranded without food, shelter or water around the towns of Chokwe and Macarratane. Plans for airlifting relief items from Manica and Palmeira in Maputo province are being drawn up by WFP.

Inhambane province:

The water level of the River Save is reportedly decreasing. Some 300 families in the lower parts, close to the River Save, are affected and need assistance.

Sofala province:

The flooding of the Buzi River continues hindering access to many localities in Buzi district, south of provincial capital Beira. It takes two days to reach some localities by boat (Situation Report no.5 refers). Some 19,000 people are severely affected and in need of assistance. Six accommodation centres for the flood victims have been established. In Buzi district, it is estimated that 50% of planted maize crops, 80% of the rice and 40% of the sorghum were washed away. In Chibabava district, an assessment is ongoing, while preliminary estimates show that some 5,000 persons are affected. In Machanga district which has been isolated from the rest of the province, 11,000 persons are reportedly affected. WFP has delivered 80Mt of maize and 13 Mt of pulses for Buzi district, and 25Mt of maize and 5 Mt of pulses for Machanga district.

National and International Response

2. The South African Defence Force is flying non-stop with 4 helicopters to carry out rescue and distribution operations.

3. National and international NGOs have set up own co-ordination body (LINK).

4. UNICEF has launched an appeal for USD 1.2 million to address health, water/sanitation needs.

5. IFRC launched an appeal for CHF 2,800,000 (approx. USD 1,707,317) to assist some 10,000 flood victims in Mozambique and Botswana for 6 months.

6. The Governments of Italy and Norway have made in-kind contributions, e.g. tents, generators, motor pumps, plastic rolls, pneumatic boats, purification unit, pillowtanks and jerricans through OCHA. The items will be flown from the OCHA warehouse in Pisa and are scheduled to arrive in Maputo on 17 February.

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 SBC0CHGG12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA Mozambique - Floods 2000.

9. 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.

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: Mr. Klaus Wiersing/ Ms. Yasuko Sawada, Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel: + 41 22 917 2770/1768

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

Telex 41 42 42 ocha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org