Mozambique: INGC Situation Report 17 Mar 2000

Instituto Nacional de Gestao das Calamidades

1. Evolution of the Floods

The Movene River is rising rapidly. The EN2, by the Namaacha turn-off and by the Umbelúzi Milk Factory, will become flooded if the river continues to rise. The water level in the Pequenos Libombos Dam is also rising, and this may soon have to discharge water.

The Incomati River also began to rise again yesterday, registering an increase of 0.30 metres at Ressano Garcia and 0.89 metres at Magude.

The water level of the Limpopo River continues to fall, though technicians have been experiencing difficulties in reaching the stations in Combumune and Chókwè. DNA are advising people to remain away from the riverbanks until they can guarantee that the river level will not rise again.

The heavy rains in the Save basin have not yet caused any affect on the river’s level. However, a new flood wave could pass down the valley of the present rains do cause a rise in water level.

The Búzi River has risen substantially over the last twenty-four hours. This is mainly due to the discharges being made by the Chicamba dam. A joint team from DNA and Eduardo Mondlane University has been sent to monitor the situation, which is now quite critical around Búzi town. Plans are being made to evacuate 500 families from the town.

In the Púngue basin the water levels have been dropping, although DNA advise people to remain cautious.

The Zambeze River continues to register a reduction in levels in Caia and Tete.

Slight flooding has occurred in the lower areas of the Messalo basin, Cabo Delgado Province. The most vulnerable areas are Muidumbe, Langua, Marere and other locations along the riverbanks. The road to Mocímboa da Praia has been cut off.

2. Current Meteorological Forecast

In the provinces of Manica, Sofala, Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo there will be moderate to heavy rain showers over the next three days, with localised thundershowers. In the northern provinces, there will be lighter rains.

For the beginning of next week (20/03/2000), light rains showers are predicted over Maputo and most of the other provinces. The neighbouring countries will also experience some scattered rains.

3. Urgent Information

The health facilities in Zinave and Jofane (Inhambane Province) have both exhausted their medical supplies.

4. Relief Action Underway

The relief operations yesterday transported the following loads:

The helicopters working out of Beira assisted with the evacuation of people from Muare, who has been stranded by the recent cuts in the road.

5. Reports from Sector Desks

Food

Yesterday 78 tonnes of food were delivered round the country. Of this, 8 tonnes were delivered throughout Sofala, 20 tonnes throughout Maputo, and 50 tonnes throughout Gaza.

The most critical areas at the moment seem to be in the camps and isolated villages in Sofala and Manica, where heavy rain is hampering relief efforts and making many of the roads impassable.

Increased delivery of food aid by road is now beginning to take place, particularly to the towns and villages in northern Maputo and southern Gaza.

Agriculture

A working group has been established to ensure that standard figures are agreed upon relating to the hectares lost, families affected and needs in terms of seeds and tools. This will comprise representatives from the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Early Warning Unit, MSF-CIS, Department for Agricultural Economics, WFP, FAO, RESAL and the National Directorate for Internal Commerce.

Health

The conditions in many accommodation centres in Matola and Maputo are thought to have deteriorated substantially as a result of the rains over the past few days. MISAU want to begin moving people from these affected centres to the newly designated "residential zone" of Congolote. However, before this can be implemented, minimum conditions in terms of shelter, water and sanitation need to be in place.

MISAU have also stressed the need for attention to be paid to health personnel, who need to be provided with tents, food supplies and water in order to be able to work effectively. District health authorities are beginning to face difficulties due to the lack of available funds to pay for the additional costs being created by the emergency.

Epidemiological Data

Chókwè

More than 20,000 people have returned to the town of Chókwè. The hospital has been severely damaged, and much of the equipment lost. A camp hospital needs to be installed in the meantime, and the French Co-operation Agency have agreed to support this initiative. The other main needs in terms of health are for support for health staff, equipment to clean and disinfect the town, in particular the sewage system.

Water/Sanitation

A hygiene education campaign has now begun to be implemented in the accommodation centres in Maputo City. This will be expanded to cover Macia and Chacalane over the coming days.

The 40KVA generators ordered by UNICEF will arrive on Monday. These are to be used in the town of Xai-Xai.

The main difficulty facing the sector is the recent increases in the river levels, which is hindering assessment operations. This has been the case in Chibabava, Machanga, Búzi, Espungabeira and Machaze.

Shelter/Accommodation Centres/Non-Food Items

The planned distribution of goods did not take place as announced yesterday. The following items were delivered yesterday:

16/03/2000

Maputo: 100 tents

Chókwè: 1,250 blankets, 100 cooking kits, 50 bundles of clothes

Massingir: 1,250 blankets

Magude: 750 blankets

Chibuto: 1,250 blankets

Save: 20 tents

An additional 630 tents have been sent to Beira. Part of these are to be distributed in the area around Machanga, whilst the rest will be taken by boat to Save River, and then distributed by helicopter.

A total of 83 unaccompanied children have been identified in the camps in Inhambane Province. Of these, only 5 have been reunited with their families.

Logistics

It has been suggested that the main distribution point for the Limpopo area should be moved from Palmeiras up to Xai-Xai. Relief items could then be transported by road from Maputo City to this point, and then forward distribution would be by air. This would allow for a more effective use of the available air resources.

6. Evaluation Reports

MISAU: Gaza

Chacalane

More than 60,000 people [NB: other sources state that there are not more than 10,000 people here]. The camp is quite well organized. The main needs are for chlorine and tents for health staff.

Hókwè, Chókwè

There are around 4,000 displaced people gathered here. Water and food supplies are extremely scarce, and existing sanitation facilities are inadequate. The most urgent needs are for tents, chlorine tablets, food supplies, latrine slabs, and cleaning materials.

Chilembene

There are now approximately 2,000 people in this location. The main needs are for food and water supplies, tents, latrines, and chlorine for water purification.

Vila de Macia

There are approximately 20,00 dislocated people here, mostly originating from Chókwè town. The water supply is plentiful and of good quality. The main needs are for tents, food supplies, and transport to facilitate distribution in the outlying area.

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.