Mozambique: INGC Situation Report 13 Mar 2000

Instituto Nacional de Gestao das Calamidades

1. Evolution of the Floods

The level of the Limpopo River in Combomune continue to drop, although this trend is expected to change over the coming days due to the rains that have fallen in South Africa over the weekend. The Incomati River is also expected to rise slightly because of this.

The levels along the Save and Búzi Rivers continue to decrease. However, a state of maximum alert has been declared along the River Pungue and River Licungo.

2. Current Meteorological Forecast

For the provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia and Tete, heavy rain and thundershowers are expected today. These will shift slightly southwards on Tuesday (14/03/2000). There is a 50% chance of rain for the provinces of Sofala, Manica, Inhambane and Gaza (slightly lower in Maputo Province).

This overcast weather will probably continue until the end of the week.

3. Urgent Information

The shelter/accommodation centre sector report that there is a severe shortage of tents.

4. Relief Action Underway

On Saturday (11/03/2000), 149.3 tons of relief items were transported, along with 262 passengers. The German Air Force medical team managed to treat 144 patients.

On Sunday (12/03/2000), 137.97 tons were airlifted to various locations, along with 283 passengers. The German Air Force made eight medical evacuations.

There are now a total of 55 aircraft working in the relief operations (40 helicopters and 15 aeroplanes).

• The USAF Keen Sage helicopter has carried out four aerial survey missions so far, covering:
• The Macia-Magude railway line, and North-west to the Massingir Dam
• The Save River camps
• Full length of the Incomati River and bordering area
• EN1

5. Reports from Sector Desks

Food

On Saturday (11/03/2000), 286 tons of food were delivered to distribution points. Of this, more than 100 tons were transported by road. On Sunday (12/03/2000), 129 tons of food were delivered. As soon as road routes are opened, trucks will transport food aid wherever possible.

WFP's 3 proposed operations have been approved by their headquarters. These entail:

• US$ 27 million for 53,000 tons of emergency food assistance for 650,000 people (until August 2000).
• US$ 3 million to fund the SANDF helicopter operations (supporting food logistics capacity) until the end of March 2000.
• US$ 4 million to fund emergency road rehabilitation programmes with MOP/DNEP/ECMEP (until the end of April 2000).

WFP's main priority is to encourage the gradual reduction of free food distribution, and to replace this with food-for-work schemes and supplementary feeding programmes. The food-for-work schemes will aim to support the rehabilitation and repair of essential infrastructure, such as secondary roads, canals, dykes, schools, and health posts.

Agriculture

Due to concerns about whether or not the early distribution of seeds will result in their being consumed, MAP intend to link their seed and tool distribution programme to the food distribution programme in order to try to prevent this.

Chibuto

The distribution of seeds and tools has begun in the accommodation centres in this district. As yet, this programme has not been linked to the food distribution programme.

Health

Over the weekend, the main activities under taken by the health sector include:

• Arrival of an emergency hospital and medical equipment from Spain.
• Personnel from the DPSM have been transferred to Marracuene (Machubo) and Manhiça (Calanga and Ilha Josina Machel).
• Ministers of Health from the neighbouring SADC countries (including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Botswana) joined Minister Songane on visits to the Provinces of Gaza and Maputo in order to gain an understanding of the actual situation.

In the coming week, further medical supplies and medical teams will be sent from Maputo to the provinces. The main difficulty at the moment is deciding how to treat those people who have begun to return to "unsafe" locations.

Teams are beginning to be pre-positioned in the Tete, in the Zambeze Valley, in anticipation of possible flooding in that area.

Sofala Province

Machanga: very little information available. The health posts at Chiluane, Machanga and Chinhaque have been damaged. There is no water supply in the district capital (ACF will disinfect and repair the existing pumps).

Buzi: The most frequently reported diseases have been diarrhoea, malaria, conjunctivitis, and skin infections. The DPS has sufficient drug stocks to last through the emergency phase. 23 volunteers have been trained by CVM in basic first aid.

Chibabava: Magude administrative post was affected by Cyclone "Eline". Some equipment was damaged. CVM has placed 7 volunteers in the district. Another 20 will be arriving soon.

Water/Sanitation

Over the weekend, the main activities of this sector have involved:

• purchasing water pumps
• analysing water quality in various wells
• ensuring a water supply to Chókwè (tanks)
• examining the Provincial Government of Gaza's report in order to determine what interventions might be made.

Of the planned activities for this week, the reestablishment of the water supply in the towns of Chókwè and Xai-Xai will take priority. In addition the on-going work of water provision and distribution of equipment, the group will begin to compile an inventory of which NGOs are working in this sector, including information on where they are located and what resources they have in place.

Infrastructure

The rains over the last few days have flooded the EN1 between Vilankulos and Inhassoro, in particular in Vulanjane.

Shelter/Accommodation Centres/Non-Food Items

This group has also begun to compile a database of the NGOs working in or supporting this sector, the equipment so far received and distributed, to where it has been sent, and the materials currently in stock.

Some information on needs in the camps has been collated at the INGC Information Centre. So far, this relates mainly to the centres in the province of Maputo.

Logistics

Wilfred De Brouwer is now heading the UNDAC/CIMC logistics centre.

It has been decided that helicopters will not be made available for the exclusive use of specific sectors. Where the transport of goods and passengers is fully justified, and the request is received before 13:00hrs, transport arrangements will almost certainly be provided.

Requests for aerial surveys of certain areas or specific infrastructure can be made through the UNDAC/CIMC centre.

Information

An Information Group has been established in Beira (comprising INGC, UNDAC, WFP). However, as yet no situation reports have been published. Some complaints about lack of information dissemination have been received.

6. Evaluation Reports

DPS Gaza/UNICEF - Chacalane, Chókwè, Macia hospital, Chicumbane hospital

Chacalane Camp

There are now 57,183 people in this camp. Three large water containers are supplying drinking water, and 355 latrines are in the process of being built. A health post with 12 national health workers is operating in the camp, and a fully equipped hospital camp is in the process of being set up by a team of Spanish doctors.

The main needs are for:

• 12 tents for health post activities
• Jerry-cans, plastic sheeting, kitchen utensils, soap and hand tools
• 10 loudspeakers for information dissemination
• Co-ordination between the Spanish and the provincial health authorities

Chókwè

The latest figures indicate that there are 23,140 displaced in the area.

Most of the equipment in the Chókwè Hospital seems to have been destroyed, most notably the X-ray machine, the operating theatre, and the generator. MSF are running a tent health post in the town centre, and health treatment is also available at the Centro Carmelo (being run by nuns, with support from MSF). The nuns will begin distribution on BP5 biscuits once these arrive.

The main needs are for:

• Reestablishment of the water supply
• Environmental sanitation measures (such as the removal of dead bodies, solid waste, mud, etc). MSF-Swiss has been assisting with this, but further body bags are required.

Macia Hospital

All 100 beds are occupied, and additional patients are sleeping on the floor. Nine tents have been prepared to accommodate up to 45 TB patients. The hospital has water, electricity, and has received 23 additional staff (displaced from Chókwè). Health workers will begin to distribute BP5 biscuits once delivered.

The main needs are for:

• 10 tents for extra health workers and patients
• 40 reed mats
• additional drug supplies
• supplementary food for malnourished children
• HIV-spot testing capacities and blood bag stock

The team also visited three centres in Macia town. These are accommodating a total of 37,464 people. There is a shortage of jerry cans, plastic sheeting, soap, hand tools, and kitchen utensils. An additional 13,654 displaced people are thought to have been integrated into host families.

Chicumbane Hospital

All 135 beds are full. There are 105 health workers. 35 TB patients have been admitted, and an average of 60 paediatric cases of malaria are being registered per day (performing an average of 10 blood transfusions per day). The hospital's water system is out of order, and water is being collected from a nearby well. There are approximately 2,000 displaced people in the area around the hospital.

The main needs are for:

• Giemsa and immersion oil for malaria testing, and 20 pipettes
• Improved HIV-spot testing capacity and blood bags
• One or two water bladders (5,000m3 capacity)
• Supplementary foods for malnourished children

Hokwè

The locality is only accessible by air. There are around 30,000 displaced people there, in addition to the 35,000 resident population. These people are in need of assistance (received 5 tons of food on 08/03/2000), in particular in relation to health facilities and medicines.

Caniçado

There are reportedly 7,000 displaced people within the urban centre, and an additional 33,000 displaced people in the outskirts. The hospital has been seriously damaged.

This report was produced by the INGC Co-ordination Centre with assistance from MSF-CIS, and incorporates information provided by INAM, DNA-DRC, WFP, UNICEF and other participating agencies