2007 Floods: Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 23 February
Major Developments Tropical Cyclone Favio made landfall in the province of Inhambane on 22 February as a category 3 cyclone, with winds of up to 230 km per hour. The cyclone, which has diminished in intensity as it heads further inland, and is now a tropical depression, is causing strong winds and heavy rains in some areas, which will also affect Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, further swelling tributaries that feed the already-flooded Zambezi River.
Source: Meteo France The Cahora Bassa dam discharge rate decreased to 2,600 m3/s as of 22 February. In general, the water levels in flood affected areas are continuing to decrease. Intense showers are expected over the next 24 hours in Sofala and Manica as a result of Cyclone Favio. As of 22 February, the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) estimates that approximately 139,944 people have been displaced due to the floods. An estimated 87,430 people are currently in the accommodation centres and 52,514 in the resettlement centres that were established after the 2001 floods. Needs Assessment Tropical Cyclone Favio The INGC in Maputo has held two meetings to review the impact of Tropical Cyclone Favio with partners. Assessments are ongoing and information is currently limited, but initial reports from the INGC in Vilanculos indicate structural damage in the town of Vilanculo, including a large number of houses, a hospital and several schools, and in the district of Govuro. A Central Operations Centre is being established in Vilanculos and there are currently 60 soldiers in Vilanculo, with additional troops being deployed. The Ministry of Health has sent 10 tents of 72m squared and medical supplies to Vilanculo and a generator is being sent to the area. Sites have been identified for the installation of the tents. A multi-sectoral assessment will be undertaken in the affected areas on 23 February by representatives of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP, WHO, UNICEF and the Mozambican Red Cross. The airport in Vilanculos is currently closed. WFP is deploying a 10-seater Caravan plane to conduct assessment missions on 24/25th February. Zambezi Floods The UNICEF team based in Caia (Sofala province) has reported that sufficient supplies are available to address the immediate needs of locations in Sofala province, and is working with partners on assessing the supply needs for the coming few weeks both for Sofala and also for the other provinces that are receiving supplies from the base in Caia. Water and sanitation remain a priority in Sofala and Manica, although sanitation coverage has improved. The team is continuing to meet with Government and NGO partners to monitor the situation in relation to education, health and nutrition and protection. 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 Zambezia. On 22 February, the team visited two more centres in the Mopeia area - Bras and Noere - to assess the situation. Additional supplies have arrived from Caia and are being distributed in line with the immediate needs assessed to date. The UNICEF team based in Mutarara (Tete province) is reporting that lack of access remains a significant barrier to ongoing assessments and response interventions in many areas, particularly in the administrative post of Inhangoma, which can only be reached by helicopter. Water, shelter and food are the priority concerns. UNICEF is working with Government and NGO partners to ensure that the needs are met 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) have completed the data collection stage of the multi-sectoral assessment to build upon initial assessments in flood affected areas. The assessment covered 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 A UNICEF team will participate in the multi-sectoral assessment of the cyclone affected areas to be conducted on 23 February. UNICEF supplies are to be deployed to the cyclone affected areas, including 500 tarpaulin sheets and 50 rolls of plastic sheeting (50m each) to provide shelter. The need for additional supplies will be reviewed based on the outcomes of assessments over the coming days in affected areas. The multimedia mobile units supported by UNICEF to work in flood affected areas disseminated information to raise awareness on the impending arrival of Tropical Cyclone Favio on 22 February. The UNICEF team is also monitoring the progress of two more cyclones that have formed in the Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclone Gamede and Tropical Cyclone 16S. Gamede is forecast to develop into a category 2 cyclone and is headed towards north-eastern Madagascar while 16S is forecast to develop into a category 1 cyclone and is moving west south-west towards Madagascar. Zambezia Floods WASH In Caia, UNICEF support includes working with the Government and NGO partners on the construction of latrines. Soldiers are being deployed to the centres to support the construction, and community participation is being promoted. In Mopeia, additional WASH supplies have been received from Caia and the UNICEF team is working with partners on the development and implementation of a distribution plan for the area. The Red Cross is scaling up its WASH interventions in the area, including the provision of 2 water purification plans. 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. UNICEF has been liaising with the Provincial Directorate of Health to ensure that sufficient medical supplies are sent to Mutarara, and with NGOs on the distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs). 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. Supplementary feeding programmes have begun in Caia, Marromeu and Chembe and are expected to begin in the Mopeia area on 23 February. In Mutarara, the Provincial Directorate of Health conducted an active case finding assessment on 22 February on 405 children in 4 centres in the Mutarara area, which indicated 70 cases of moderate malnutrition. UNICEF is following up with the local health authorities to ensure that these children receive the appropriate treatment. Supplies of BP5 – a type of compact food – provided by UNICEF have been distributed to Mutarara and are expected to arrive on 23 February. Education The installation of large tents provided by UNICEF to be used as learning spaces in flood affected areas is ongoing. To date, 13 tents have been installed and are in use in Sofala province and 3 in the Mopeia area. One tent has been received in Mutarara and additional tents will be sent in the next 48 hours. UNICEF is working with the education authorities in the affected districts to ensure that additional teachers are available to work in affected schools. Where relevant, children from centres are accessing neighbouring schools. Protection In light of the potential for mines and UXOs to have been dislodged by the flood waters, mine risk education materials from Angola are being sent to Caia for distribution.
Photo essay Related links Health activists spread life-saving messages Protecting children from malaria and water-borne diseases Flood-affected children go back to school Coastal towns hard at work after Cyclone Favio Mozambique floods: Getting children back to school Mozambique floods: Preventing the spread of diseases among children in the camps 2007 Floods and Cyclone: humanitarian updates |
