United Methodist News Service
United Methodists are continuing efforts
to help victims of last year's catastrophic flooding in Mozambique, even
as new floods in February and early March have created more problems.
The Rev. Morais Quissico (left), disaster coordinator for the United Methodist Church in Mozambique, reported in a March 7 e-mail that he had been working in the provinces of Zambezia and Sofala, areas of recent flooding, for the past week.
"Our help at this 'emergency' period is constituted by supplies of basic food, donated specifically to those displaced and disparate thousands of families with their many children, following the priorities identified and recommended by the National Institute on Disaster Management," he wrote.
Quissico said he intended to journey soon to the provinces of Tete and Manica. More than 81,000 people are estimated to be displaced and about 400,00000 affected by flooding in the four provinces as a whole.
Six U.N. agencies launched a joint appeal to the international community on March 7, asking for $10.7 million to respond to the flooding. The government of Mozambique had requested $36.5 million in foreign assistance in late February.
"The flood situation in the central region is continuously of great concern," Quissico wrote. As the rivers keep rising, more farms, livestock, houses and other items are lost, he added. "Despite a positive intervention of the international community to the central region's dilemma, the need for more resources still remains, given the growing number of families affected."
Recovery efforts from the 2000 floods are proceeding in the southern African country, despite complaints that promises of assistance have not been kept by some other countries and non-governmental organizations, said the Rev. Kristin Sachen, executive secretary for international emergency response, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). "For a very poor country, I think it's on schedule," she added.
So far, UMCOR has invested more than $700,000 in flood relief efforts in Mozambique, and it is preparing to send another $100,000 to deal with the current flooding. That leaves about $1 million remaining for long-term recovery, and Sachen noted that additional donations to UMCOR for Mozambique relief work are welcome.
"The longer we receive, the longer we can be a supportive presence for development," she said.
The donations also have had a direct positive effect on Mozambique's economy since the money is spent locally through the church. "What has been very helpful to them has been to have money to hire laborers and to have food-for-work programs," Sachen said.
The church broke ground this winter for a project involving the building of 120 houses in a new settlement outside Maputo for people unable to return to homes destroyed by the floods. UMCOR and the United Methodist Church in Germany funded the project. Government approval is being sought to add a clinic, church and school.
Other relief activities in response to the 2000 floods have included the purchase of three brick-making machines; the distribution of food, clothing, domestic articles, seeds, agricultural tools, medical supplies and equipment; the establishment of six water-treatment systems; and the reconstruction of houses.
Since the beginning of the flooding disaster in 2000, United Methodists in Mozambique have cooperated with the Mozambique Red Cross, which has better access to victims in remote areas. Now, according to Quissico, that cooperation also is extending to the Christian Council of Mozambique and the World Lutheran Federation.
Donations for the relief work can be made to the Churchwide Appeal for Flood Recovery in Mozambique and Neighboring Countries, UMCOR Advance #156500-0 . Contributions can be placed in local church collection plates or mailed directly to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 212-870-3816; FAX: 212-870-3624
E-mail: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/