Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 09 January 2008.
Major Developments
- The Central Emergency Operations Centre (CENOE) has been activated since 4 January and meetings of focal points from each line ministry, relevant government institution and the Humanitarian Clusters are taking place daily to provide updates on the situation and response in areas affected by the localised flooding.
- The water levels of the Pungue, Save and Buzi rivers continue to decrease. The Zambezi river continues to increase gradually as a result of continued high levels of rain in Zambia.
- Output from the Cahora Bassa Dam is currently at 6,600 cubic meters per second.
- Water levels are expected to continue to increase downriver of the dam.
- The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and partners are evacuating affected populations to secure areas on higher ground. Current INGC estimates put the total number of people affected so far at approximately 72,000 of which 30,000 have been evacuated to already-established resettlement centres to date.
- A total of 31481 hectares of arable land has been lost.
- According to the National Meteorological institute (INAM) weak to moderate, and at times strong, rainfall is expected over the period 8 to 10 January in the south and centre of the country and moderate to intense rainfall is expected in Zambia over the same period. The predictions are raising concerns in Caia of further increases in levels of the Zambeze and Chire rivers and of the Save, Buzi and Pungué rivers.
- The Government of Mozambique focuses on the quick and effective resettlement of the affected communities. Demarcation is already underway to establish permanent resettlement centres in the areas where there are none yet.
Preliminary assessments
On 4 January a team of three UNICEF staff members has been deployed to the worst affected areas for preliminary assessments, following consultations with the INGC. The ongoing assessment indicates infrastructural damage, displacement and loss of crops as it main concerns. As the area has not yet had any rainfall there are concerns that water levels will rise again when the rains will start.
The INGC identified the following immediate needs for all affected areas; food supplies, domestic supplies, educational kits, mosquito nets and fuel supplies.
UNICEF Response
In the flood affected areas UNICEF is focusing on supporting the local education, water, health authorities and other partners to distribute the pre-positioned supplies and to monitor the situation in the centres to ensure needs are identified and immediately addressed.
- In collaboration with the INGC, line ministries and Cluster partners, preliminary needs assessments are carried out in affected areas and accommodation centres to evaluate the status and determine the basic needs of evacuated and displaced populations, especially children and women.
- A multi-sector food-security and nutrition needs assessment is planned to take place between 10 to 15 January in affected areas to determine medium-term emergency response needs following the immediate response. The assessment is being carried out with the INGC, line ministries, UN agencies including UNICEF and non-governmental partners. Cluster partners are also consolidating rapid assessments results for other sectors.
- Pre-positioned emergency supplies including Health, Education and Water and Sanitation materials, are being successfully distributed in the affected areas.
- Telecommunications support has been provided by UNICEF and WFP to the INGC including installation of a VSAT, teleconferencing equipment and BGANs in the central and regional operations bases of INGC to ensure effective communication between all levels.
- Cholera prevention measures are being supported in flood affected areas to avoid a cholera outbreak. UNICEF is working with Health authorities to ensure cholera treatment services are available in the event of an outbreak in affected districts.
- Malaria prevention initiatives are being initiated by district and provincial health authorities, including the spraying of accommodation centres. UNICEF will support the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and will also work with local partners to ensure timely social mobilization efforts on the use of mosquito nets.
- Provincial and district water authorities are being supported to ensure displaced populations have access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities, facilitating the transport of water and sanitation supplies, as well as the deployment of government staff to assist affected areas.
- Support will also continue to be given to ensure that children have uninterrupted access to education following the start of the academic school year in late January. Support and educational materials will continue to be provided to ensure the most vulnerable and needy children have equal access to, and benefit from education.
- In conjunction with Protection Cluster partners, efforts are ongoing to train local authorities, non-governmental partners in the field as well as community leaders on protection from violence, exploitation and abuse and enhancing the psycho-social environment for children.
- Procurement of Preliminary Emergency Supplies: UNICEF Mozambique is reviewing and taking action on new supply needs for the flood response. Critical items for immediate procurement include: motor pumps, cholera response kits, learners’ and teachers’ kits, and shelter and building supplies to urgently restore basic services in affected health centres and schools. Further assessment of the affected zone will identify additional emergency supply requirements.
Inter-Agency Collaboration and Key Partnerships
- A Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) meeting was called for 7 January 2008 to provide an overview of the situation and take stock of the levels of preparedness and response of various Clusters. The HCT coordinates the overall humanitarian response of international partners under the IASC Cluster Approach.
- Under the framework of the IASC Cluster Approach, the Clusters have been officially activated in preparation of the HCT. All Clusters are on alert and are conducting meetings on a regular basis. As a number of agencies and Cluster partners are already on the ground, conducting rapid assessments, it will not be feasible or realistic to conduct one multi-sectoral assessment. As such, all Clusters that are still to conduct rapid assessments will carry out assessments in the course of this week and early next week.
- All organisations are preparing to have a presence on the ground, preferably in Caia area where the operational basis is established. UNICEF and WFP have already set up basis in Caia
- A Central Emergency Response Fund proposal will be developed with inputs from all Clusters and will be sent out by the UN Resident Coordinator to OCHA by early next week.
The current list of Cluster leads and participants is provided below:
Logistics
Cluster lead: WFP
Cluster participants: UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, IFRC, Care, IRD, CVM, Jacana, JAM, Kulima, MSF, Oxfam, Samaritan’s Purse, Save the Children, World Vision
Food Security
Cluster lead: WFP/FAO
Cluster participants: IRD, SCA, World Vision, World Relief
Telecommunications
Cluster lead: WFP
Cluster participants: UNICEF
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Cluster lead: UNICEF
Cluster participants: Oxfam, Samaritans Purse, MSF-L, IRD, FHI, CVM
Nutrition
Cluster lead: UNICEF
Cluster participants: SCA, WHO, FAO, WFP, CARE, World Vision, FHI, World Relief, Samaritans Purse
Health
Cluster lead: WHO
Cluster participants: Medicus Mundi, World Vision, CVM
UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, MSF
Education
Cluster lead: Save the Children Alliance & UNICEF
Cluster participants: World Vision, Concern, UNESCO, Africare, Samaritans Purse, WFP, Terre des Hommes, Oxfam
Protection
Cluster lead: Save the Children Alliance & UNICEF
Cluster participants: World Vision, UNFPA, Africare, Handicap International, Samaritans Purse, WFP, Action Aid, Concern, Halo Trust, CVM, IRD, Terre des Hommes
Shelter
Cluster lead: UN-Habitat
Cluster participants: CVM, German Agro Action, IOM, UNICEF, Care International, Kulima.
