Mozambique floods: Situation Report No. 4

HIGHLIGHTS

- Approximately 81,445 people have been moved to resettlement centers as a result of the 2008 floods in Mozambique.

- Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the affected provinces of Zambezia, Manica, Tete and Sofala.

- The Government is leading this operation with the support of the humanitarian community and development partners.

The information contained in this report has been gathered by the Office of Resident Coordinator on behalf of the Mozambican Humanitarian Country Team from the Clusters and other sources including the Government of Mozambique.

Situation Overview

18,331 households (approximately 81,445 people) have moved as of 23 January to resettlement centers as a result of the 2008 floods in Mozambique. This is in addition to the people who were already in the resettlement centres since the floods in 2007.

According to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, these populations along the four flood affected River basins lost an estimated total of 89,786 hectares of agricultural land.

The Cahora Bassa Dam has increased its discharges into the Zambezi River from 4,600 to 4,800 cubic meters per second. The Licungo and Zambeze basins are stabilizing due to low rainfall although hydrometric levels in the Zambezi still remain above alert levels. Water levels in Pungue and Save River basins have been decreasing but still remain at alert levels.

INAM forecasts for the next weeks above normal rainfall across the central provinces of Mozambique.

Rescue and evacuation efforts are still being carried out by INGC along the Lower Zambeze River and displaced populations are being integrated by the Government into resettlement centers (RC).

The Minister of State Administrator, Mr. Lucas Chomera and the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Ndolamb Ngokwey on Monday 21 January convened a meeting at the National Centre for Emergency Operations (CENOE) to brief humanitarian and development partners on the current emergency situation in Mozambique.

Humanitarian Response

Since the issuance of the last Situation Report, the following updates have been received:

Shelter Cluster

Cluster Lead: UN-HABITAT

Cluster members: IOM, UNDP, UNICEF, CVM, IFRC, CARITAS Moçambicana, KULIMA, GAA, CARE, WVI, OIKOS, CONCERN, Habitat for Humanity, DINAPOT-MICOA, DNHU-MOPH

The Mozambican Red Cross (CVM), is planning to support 9,000 families in terms of emergency shelter needs, using the remaining stocks from the 2007 flood response and the pledged funds through the sub-regional appeal launched by the IFRC. However, these funds have not been received yet. In Mutarara the World Vision International (WVI) has distributed 600 plastic sheets and still has some stocks available for assisting 500 more households approximately.

Considering that the sector is still underfunded, it has been decided in consensus with all shelter cluster members to assist additional 3,500 families out of the 5,000 still uncovered - if IFRC appeal is fully funded - targeting the most vulnerable households. This assistance will be provided under the overall coordination of IOM, through well-established national NGO's such as CVM, CARITAS Moçambicana and KULIMA, which have large networks of volunteers in most of the flooded areas, and through international NGO's like GAA for Chinde District and WVI for Mutarara District, which are among the most affected areas of the lower Zambezi River valley. CERF support will also reach the affected population in the lower Save River, close to the river mouth.

Strategically, considering the reduced funding, plastic sheeting will be the main option adopted in order to reach as many families as possible. Save the Children will provide 3,500 households kits ready to be distributed. UN-HABITAT is sending 2 national consultants to CENOE Caia for ensuring cluster coordination in the field, in close collaboration with the local authorities.

It was agreed with cluster members that, in a second phase, once the emergency period is over, the cluster will support the Government in the resettlement process in terms of spatial planning, plot demarcation, land registration, self-help construction and environmentally sustainable housing typologies. This strategy will be included in the sub-regional request to be launched by the HCT soon. UN-HABITAT will establish a partnership with UNDP in order to adequately integrate early recovery aspects.

Telecommunication Cluster

Cluster Lead: WFP

Caia Connectivity

Caia VSAT is currently supporting up to 20 simultaneous connections, and the bandwidth in most of the cases cannot satisfy the requirements. The ETC is looking into a possibility to get a leased-line operational or upgrade the VSAT bandwidth, bearing in mind the cost effectiveness.

Mutarara and Mopeia Connectivity

The VSAT is up-and-running; the problem was a malfunctioning modem which was replaced by the World Vision IT technician. ETC is looking into the possibilities to provide backbone connectivity for all humanitarian actors in the area.

Deployed Staff

- WFP IT Officer - from 16th till 27th of January to provide basic ICT services to the humanitarian community.

- UNICEF ICT Officer - 23rd of January to Mopeia to set-up the BGAN to provide data connectivity.

- UNDP Telecommunication Officer - from 23rd till 29th of January - to Caia and Mutarara to install base and mobile HF stations for INGC.

- WFP Electrician - 23rd till 30th of January - to Caia to install the generator at the UN Common Office.

Actions for the Next Week

- To finalize Radio-operator recruitment for Caia.

- HF and electrical installations in Caia and Mutarara.

- IT installations in Caia and Mopeia.

Nutrition Cluster

Cluster Lead: UNICEF

Cluster members: World Vision, MSF, World Relief, Save the Children Alliance, FHI, WFP, Samaritan's Purse, CARE, FAO, WHO, UNAIDS, Ministry of Health

The Nutrition Cluster participated in the inter-agency rapid field assessment which focused primarily on food security and which was led by the National Technical Secretariat for Food Security (SETSAN). SETSAN and Nutrition Cluster partners are currently analysing the data collected and a final report is due by the end of the week.

Active screening activities have started in Buzi and Govuro districts and close to 200 children have been screened with 18 found to be malnourished. Vitamin A and de-worming tablets are being distributed in both districts. Initial data are being compiled for these and other districts which will be assessed by the Cluster partners. The Ministry of Health has also prepared a distribution plan for 18 MT of BP-5, to allow a rapid start-up of the supplementary feeding programme in all flood-affected districts.

Nutrition Cluster partners are conducting assessments of flood-affected districts and are ensuring coverage of resettlement centres for nutrition activities through mobile clinics and active screening. The collection of nutrition data through an anthropometric survey conducted by the Ministry of Health is under discussion. Such a survey would be supported by the Nutrition Cluster's members. In the meantime, the Cluster is focusing on active case finding and selective feeding.

Education Cluster

Cluster Leads: Save the Children and UNICEF

Cluster members: Concern, Samaritan's Purse, Terre des Hommes, UNESCO, WFP, World Vision, Africare, Oxfam, Ministry of Education and Culture.

The results of the assessments conducted in the various resettlement centres throughout the affected areas indicate that an estimated 63,867 learners in 105 primary schools are in need of immediate support so that they can start the new school year in time. In order to address their immediate needs, the Education Cluster has procured and is distributing a total of 61 school tents measuring 72m², 63,867 learners' kits, 953 teachers' kits and 200 school kits.

The Education Cluster has mobilised tents and materials from pre-positioned locations to seven operational hubs in the flood-affected areas. In some areas such as Mopeia, school tents have already been erected. More educational supplies are under procurement and a distribution plan has been finalised. Education Cluster members have deployed teams to the field to oversee the distribution of supplies in Zambezia, Manica and Inhambane provinces and to monitor their use.

In order to facilitate coordination and coverage of all geographic areas affected by the floods, the Cluster members have conducted a mapping exercise, which will monitor on-going activities and ensure an effective response. Further consultations and follow-up with the local education authorities are key to addressing the availability and allocation of teachers as well as the provision of other education services necessary to ensure an adequate learning environment in the resettlement areas. As a result of continuing influxes of displaced families to resettlement centres, assessments are on-going to verify the number of incoming children of school-going age.

Food Security Cluster

Cluster Leads: WFP and FAO

Cluster members: FS Cluster - World Relief, Save, Africaire, CEDES, Concern, Cafod, Fewsnet, GAA, Kulima, LWF, Setsan, INGC, Samaritans Purse, World Vision, JAM, IRD, Trocaire, ADMR, CCM, Bades and OIKOS.

WFP and its partners have been supporting a total of 471,000 people in response to the drought in southern provinces and the effects of the floods and cyclones in 2007 in central provinces, including people who were in resettlement centres and had lost their crops last year. Close coordination with INGC and local authorities is taking place to determine revised beneficiary caseloads in the resettlement centres, taking into account new arrivals so that food distributions can resume this week. Food distributions have already been provided to camps in Mutarara (including by helicopter) and Machanga. The other camps will be assisted before the end of the month. Distributions are provided on a monthly or bi-weekly basis through cooperating partners, many of which are local such as CEDES in Caia and CCM in Mopeia, Chemba and Marromeu. Other partners include Bades, World Relief and German AgroAction.

WFP's pipeline situation is of concern, with the increase of people in need of assistance this is expected to break in February. New resources are urgently required. The total requirements through July are 25,000 mt, equivalent to USD 15.5 million.

There are no improvements in road accessibility, with locations in Sofala province (Buzi, Machanga, Caia, Chemba and Marromeu), Manica province (Tambara) and Tete provinces (Doa and Inhangoma) only accessible by boat or helicopter. In addition, rescue and relief operations are being compounded in some locations due to the constant flow of people to and from the designated resettlement centers.

Cluster partners are active in responding the floods, a number of projects in support of the resettlement centres are underway including in infrastructure and agricultural rehabilitation.

FAO intends to support the floods affected households in the 4 river basins in restoring agricultural production and livelihoods. The Food Security Cluster co-lead will promote Conservation Agriculture in the resettlement areas, which is a technology with a potential of improving productivity without demanding inputs that impose negative impacts on the farmers' food structure. FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture will also look at livelihood activities that will promote the permanent residence of the resettled families and prevent their regression to flood risk areas in the river basins.

To date ongoing assessments in collaboration with the Provincial Directorates of Agriculture indicate that 89,786 hectares of crops have been lost to the flooding as in table 1 below.