2007 Floods: Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 13-14 February.
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© UNICEF Mozambique/Thierry Delvigne-Jean |
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A mother and her baby wait for a ration of food in Chupanga camp, near the town of Caia, where some three thousand people have sought refuge from severe floods in central Mozambique. February 2007. |
Major Developments
The Cahora Bassa dam reduced its discharge rate from 8,400 to 6,600 m3/s on 12 February. However, the influx of water to the reservoir remains at the same level (around 10,000m3/s) and more rains are predicted in Zambia. Moderate to heavy rains were registered in several locations in the Centre and North of the country in the past 48 hrs.
As of 13 February, the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) estimates that approximately 74,000 people have been displaced due to the floods. An estimated 29,000 people are currently in the accommodation centres and the remainder in the resettlement centres that were established after the 2001 floods.
The INGC in Caia (Sofala province) is developing plans of action for the distribution of supplies to accommodation centres; UNICEF has been requested to coordinate the development of the multi-sectoral plan of action in conjunction with National Institute of Disaster Management, local authorities and non-governmental partners (NGOs).
Needs Assessment
The UNICEF team working with the INGC, local authorities and NGO partners in Caia continues to visit accommodation centres in the affected areas to assess immediate needs and monitor emergency response activities. Priority needs include tents, education materials, hygiene supplies, water treatment plants, jerry cans and buckets.
UNICEF participated in an assessment mission from Caia to Inhangoma with the INGC. Inhangoma is currently only accessible by helicopter and an estimated 17-18,000 people are displaced in the area. Food and fuel for boats have been delivered and operations will be scaled up to address the accommodation centres in the area.
In addition to the team based in Caia, two additional emergency teams of UNICEF staff from various sectors were sent to affected areas – Caia, Mutarara (Tete) and Quelimane (Zambezia) – on 14th February to support the ground assessments and response measures of government counterparts.
Building on the ongoing initial assessments and initial response measures, a multi-sectoral assessment of additional affected areas has been planned from 18-23 February by teams including representatives from Government, UN and NGOs. Affected areas to be covered include Magoe and Zumbu (Tete province), Tambara (Manica province), Chemba, Marromeu and Caia (Sofala province) and Mutarara, Mopeia, Morrumbala and Chinde (Zambezia province). The assessment will also send a monitoring team to the district of Moma in Nampula province, where floods reportedly affected over 5,000 in late January.
UNICEF Response
Health
- UNICEF is working with the authorities and NGO partners to ensure that people in the camps have access to adequate health services. While most camps have been located near to health posts, assessments are ongoing by UNICEF, the Mozambican Red Cross and health officials to ensure that adequate access to health services is available. The Mozambican Red Cross is sending teams to support the accommodation centres, while district and provincial health officials are mobilizing staff from unaffected areas to meet the additional demands of the displaced populations.
- As part of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) ‘cluster approach’, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with UNICEF and NGO partners to establish coordination mechanisms in the area of health in support of the Government response.
Nutrition
- UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health and the World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure that corn soya blend, a nutritious food supplement, is available in the affected areas to address supplementary feeding for children under age five, as an extension of the Nutrition Rehabilitation Programme launched by the Ministry of Health, WFP and UNICEF in October 2006.
- The Ministry of Health is mobilizing 18 tonnes of ‘BP5’, a type of compact food, that are currently in stock to help address the nutritional needs of displaced children.
- As part of the IASC ‘Cluster Approach’, UNICEF and NGO partners are working to establish coordination mechanisms in the area of nutrition in support of the Government response.
WASH
- Supplies ordered this week in South Africa are arriving on 14 February and will be sent to Tete, to be forwarded via Malawi to the affected areas in Mutarara. In addition, new supplies will be sent to Caia for onward distribution to the affected areas in Marromeu, Chupanga, Morrumbala and Mopeia.
- As part of the IASC ‘cluster approach’, UNICEF and NGO partners are working to establish coordination mechanisms in the area of water and sanitation in support of the Government response.
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© UNICEF Mozambique/Thierry Delvigne-Jean |
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As part of an assessment mission, UNICEF Education Officer Lisa Doherty speaks with a family displaced by the floods to find about the living conditions in Chupanga camp, near the town of Caia. February 2007. |
Education
- To date, 2,880 teachers’ kits and 6,000 learner kits have been sent to Caia and Quelimane and additional kits have been ordered. A total of 23,900 learners’ kits and 200 education kits from the regular education programme are being redeployed for use to support the needs of affected school children.
- UNICEF has also ordered 31 tents, which are arriving on 14 February, to be used for education activities for displaced children. The plan of action for education includes strengthening the capacity of schools in local communities and resettlement centres to accommodate displaced children.
- As part of the IASC ‘cluster approach’, the Save the Children Alliance, UNICEF and NGO partners are working to establish coordination mechanisms in the area of education in support of the Government response.
Protection and Psychosocial Support
- UNICEF continues to work with the authorities and NGO partners to ensure a protective environment in the camps. Local authorities are reporting that police have been trained on protection issues before being sent to the accommodation centres. Existing recreational and care materials for orphaned and vulnerable children are being sent to the affected areas from other parts of the country and additional items are being ordered.
- In Mutarara, the District Directorate of the Ministry of Women and Social Action is reporting that to date 473 orphaned and vulnerable children have been identified in 12 accommodations centres in Mutarara. The UNICEF team is reviewing the status of support for this vulnerable group of children, and additional support requirements.
- As part of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) ‘cluster approach’, the Save the Children Alliance, UNICEF and NGO partners are working to establish coordination mechanisms in the area of protection in support of the Government response.
