2007 Floods: Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 21 February
 |
|
© UNICEF Mozambique/ Thierry Delvigne-Jean |
|
Displaced people arrive at Chupanga camp, near the town of Caia, where thousands of people have sought refuge from severe floods in central Mozambique. February 2007. |
Major Developments
The Cahora Bassa dam discharge rate decreased to 3,600 m3/s as of 20 February.
As of the morning of 20 February, the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) estimates that approximately 120,791 people have been displaced due to the floods. An estimated 70,925 people are currently in the accommodation centres and 49,866 in the resettlement centres that were established after the 2001 floods.
Over the next few days, light to moderate rains are predicted in the north and central regions of the country, and light to moderate rains, with the possibility of becoming heavy, are predicted in Malawi and Zambia.
It is expected that on 22 February, Tropical Cyclone Favio will reach the coastal districts in the provinces of Inhambane and Sofala, before passing close to the city of Beira and heading further inland.
Source: Meteo France
Needs Assessment
Tropical Cyclone Favio. The 2006/7 Contingency Plan of the INGC provides projected figures for the population at risk in the event of a cyclone. An estimated 11,794 people are at risk in the province of Sofala and 77,596 in the province of Inhambane, giving a maximum total of people at risk in the two provinces of 89,390.
Flood risk district Province Cyclone rist level*
- Zumbo Tete Low
- Magoe Tete Low
- Mutarara Tete Moderate
- Guro Manica Low
- Tambara Manica Low
- Chemba Sofala Low
- Caia Sofala Moderate
- Marromeu Sofala High
- Chinde Zambezia High
- Mopeia Zambezia High
- Morrumbala Zambezia Moderate
* As identified in the Government 2006-7 Contingency Plan – general cyclone projections
(scale = low/moderate/high/very high)
The INGC is holding a meeting in Caia on 21 February to discuss preparedness for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Favio. There is the potential that Favio could exacerbate flooding in the area and may also have implications for the delivery of supplies for the flood response being delivered by helicopter.
The UNICEF team based in Caia (Sofala province) has reported that sufficient supplies are available to address the immediate needs of easily accessible locations in Sofala province. Assessments are ongoing in the less accessible centres but the INGC is reporting that the priority needs are food, water and sanitation. The main focus is on continued food distribution. UNICEF is working with the INGC and other partners to ensure effective targeting and delivery of supplies and to monitor the need for additional supply and non-supply interventions.
The UNICEF team based in Mopeia (Zambezia province) is continuing to work with Government and non-governmental partners to assess the situation in relation to centres in Mopeia and Morrumbala. Additional supplies have arrived and have been distributed in line with the immediate needs assessed to date. Food continues to be highlighted as the main priority. In partnership with local authorities and partners, the team has calculated the additional supply needs for the next three weeks to cover all areas in Mopeia and Morrumbala and is following up to ensure that these needs are met.
The UNICEF team based in Mutarara (Tete province), together with Government and NGO partners, visited the Cassambala centre in Inhamgoma administrative post on 20 February, which is only accessible by boat. The priority needs were identified as food, sanitation supplies, jerry cans, learners’ kits and BP5, in addition to fuel, as many of the locations in Inhangoma can only be reached by helicopter or by boat. The team is working with government and non-governmental partners to consolidate immediate needs and ensure effective and timely response in terms of supply and non-supply interventions.
Teams composed of governmental and non-governmental partners (including the Ministry of Health, SETSAN/VAC, UNICEF, WFP, FAO and USAID/FEWSNET) are continuing work on the multi-sectoral assessment to build upon initial assessments in flood affected areas. The assessment is covering areas including education, food, nutrition, health, HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, market access, shelter, protection, assistance received, status of basic infrastructure and security.
UNICEF Response
Tropical Cyclone Favio
- Additional UNICEF staff members in the areas of coordination, health and nutrition, WASH and education are on standby for immediate deployment to areas affected by the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Favio as required.
- New stocks of plastic sheeting and tarpaulin ordered in case of deterioration in the flood affected areas are being retained in Maputo rather than being sent to Caia, to ensure rapid deployment to cyclone affected areas if required. Emergency/family kits ordered will also be held in Maputo, especially as requirements in Caia are likely to be met by other shelter cluster partners.
WASH
- Additional water and sanitation supplies provided by UNICEF have arrived in Mopeia and the following supplies have been distributed: 900 jerry cans, 400 metres of plastic sheeting, 248 latrine slabs, 5 boxes of chlorine, 10 boxes of soap bars and 3 water tanks. These supplies are sufficient to cover the immediate needs and the team is following up to ensure the delivery and distribution of additional supplies required for the next few weeks.
- Supplies have also arrived in Mutarara for immediate distribution: 2 large water bladders, 740 buckets, 45kg chlorine, 80 latrines and 5 boxes of water maker. The UNICEF team has been liaising with the local water authorities, Oxfam and Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) on the additional needs in relation to water and sanitation.
- 13 copies of the hygiene awareness serial album have been distributed in the Chupanga centre near Caia and a mobile unit is en route from Beira. It is expected that 63 activists will be trained on hygiene promotion and malaria starting on 21 February.
Health
- The UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officers based in Caia, Mopeia and Mutarara are all continuing to support the local health authorities in assessing the situation in relation to health in the centres. The most common illnesses registered in centres are diarrhoea, malaria and conjunctivitis. In Caia, the cholera and flooding contingency plan for the pre-epidemic stage is being implemented. UNICEF is liaising with the local health authorities on available cholera treatment stocks and also with other partners to ensure effective distribution of health-related supplies to all flood affected areas.
Nutrition
- The UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officers based in Caia, Mopeia and Mutarara are also supporting the local health authorities in assessing the nutritional status of affected children. In Caia, through an active case finding assessment of the nutritional status of children (using weight for height), 472 children have been screened to date, with 72 cases of moderate malnutrition and 12 cases of severe malnutrition registered. All children are receiving the appropriate treatment (supplementary or therapeutic feeding). During the assessments, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming treatment and immunisation are also administered to children screened.
- Distribution plans for the BP5 - compact food - provided by UNICEF (currently available in Caia and Mopeia) have been developed by the Ministry of Health in coordination with partners in Caia and Mopeia. UNICEF will support the local health authorities and partners to implement these plans in a timely manner and also to ensure rapid delivery of BP5 to the Mutarara area.
Education
- Education supplies provided by UNICEF have arrived in Mopeia and the following supplies have been distributed: 4 tents, 260 school kits and 8 teachers’ kits. These supplies are sufficient to cover the immediate needs and the team is following up to ensure the delivery and distribution of additional supplies required in Mopeia and Morrumbala for the next few weeks.
- 20 school kits and 1 tent to be used as a temporary learning space have arrived in Mutarara and are being distributed. The team based in Mutarara is supporting government and NGO partners to monitor additional needs.
Protection
- UNICEF has been working with the District Director of Women and Social Action to assess the situation of orphaned and vulnerable children in accommodation centres in Caia. As of 20 February, 20 activists from the Ministry of Women and Social Action have begun work in the centres in Sofala, identifying the most vulnerable children, sensitizing community leadership and identifying key protection focal people in each of the centres in preparation for the arrival of either protection related supplies or orientation/training work.
- The issue of policing remains a concern in all of the accommodation centres in affected areas. UNICEF is following up with the Ministry of Interior on the finalisation of a plan for policing in the centres. The plan is expected to be finalised on 21 February, then to be implemented with immediate effect.
