Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 6 February 2008
Major Developments Flood response As of 06 February, the water levels along the Zambeze are fluctuating with a tendency to stabilize. The Chire river increased due to heavy rainfall in Malawi while the Buzi, Licungo, Limpopo, Pungoe and Save rivers are stable. Discharges from the Cahora Bassa Dam stabilised at 3,900 cubic meters per second. Low to moderate rainfall is forecast for 7-9 February over the central and northern provinces, while heavy rainfall is forecast for the same period in the neighboring countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. The total number of people relocated to resettlement centres across the five provinces affected by flooding now stands at 99,514. Of these, a total of 86,072 are in the Zambeze valley area. Mutarara Town remains without electricity. As a result, the town is also without water, forcing people to collect water from the river. The District Administration reports that work is underway to ensure that electricity is restored in the next couple of days. The overall situation in Mutarara district is worsening as all the new resettlement centres in Inhangoma, previously considered safe, are now under water. Given that more flooding is anticipated, major efforts are required to ensure that people currently in flooded centres are resettled on higher ground before the situation deteriorates. Rescue operations continue, especially in Mutarara district. In order to accommodate the increasing numbers of evacuees, a new transit centre is currently being established. Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) have been found in the transit centre area. Earthquake On 1 February, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale was reported. The earthquake hit Manica Province, approximately 515 kilometres from Maputo City. The National Disaster Management Institute conducted a rapid assessment in the relatively unpopulated area and reported that no major damage had occurred. Insecurity in Maputo The increase in public transportation fares in Maputo on 5 February has resulted in riots and protests throughout the city that left one dead and many others wounded. The Government has requested the population to remain calm and has entered negotiations with public transportation owners to review the increase in bus fares. The capital was relatively calm on Wednesday morning, but public transportation has not yet resumed service and many stores and schools remain closed. UNICEF Response to the Zambeze Floods Management and coordination UNICEF and partners are supporting INGC to develop a rescue strategy, including resettling families on higher grounds, which will ensure the safety of affected people once the Lake Kariba Dam flood gate is opened next week. Health and nutrition 18.7 MT of Corn Soya Blend (CSB) has reached Caia and a distribution plan has been developed indicating the needs for Mutarara, Marromeu, Caia, Chemba and Tambara. In addition, approved CERF funds have been used to purchase 18 MT of BP5 to be distributed as soon as the distribution plan is approved by the Ministry of Health. Over 2,000 mosquito nets have been distributed by helicopter to the Doa area, specifically in Mpane, Nhumbo, Fortuna/Pfefpe, Sabandara and Cambata resettlement centres. An additional 6,000 nets reached the MSF warehouse on 4 February and will be distributed to all resettlement centres in the Mopeia district shortly. While power has now been restored in Mutarara, the District Hospital requires support in the form of a backup generator. UNICEF and partners are moving forward in procuring a generator for the hospital in order to re-connect the cold chain and to provide access to safe water. Activities and messages around prevention of cholera, malaria and HIV continue to be carried out by mobile multimedia units in resettlement centres in Caia and Mopeia. In addition, community theatre activities covering cholera prevention, hygiene promotion, malaria and HIV prevention are being performed in both districts. Radio spots on cholera prevention, malaria and water treatment, developed with technical assistance from UNICEF, are currently being broadcast in Mutarara district. Water and sanitation In order to ensure access to safe water in Mutarara Town, two water treatment plants have been installed, while a third one is currently being set up. The newly established transit centre has been equipped with a 15,000L bladder and water trucking is provided by MSF. WASH supplies are currently being distributed in the flood-affected areas. A total of 10,352 bars of soap, 9,252 bottles of certeza, 2,850 buckets and over 6,000 jerry cans have been distributed so far, in the four provinces of Tete, Manica, Sofala and Zambezia. The national, provincial and district water authorities are finalising a comprehensive strategy that will address immediate, medium and long-term needs and include provisions to improve water and sanitation facilities in resettlement centres. In Mopeia district, UNICEF, in coordination with DAS-Zambeze, has taken over responsibility from MSF to provide water trucking. To date, a total of 81,000 cubic metres of water has been produced for the resettlement centre of Zona Verde. In addition 20,000 cubic metres have been produced for 24 de Julho resettlement centre. A total of 42 latrines have been constructed in the two resettlement centres. Progress is slower than expected with regards to the construction of latrines, however UNICEF is working with Public Works to increase community mobilisation to scale up activities. A total of 420 latrine slabs have been distributed to support families in the construction of latrines in the two resettlement centres. Education Ten UNICEF school tents have been distributed in Mutarara district, four of which have gone to schools in Bawe, Mpane and Nkuletche resettlement centres. The tents have been set up and will be used as classrooms immediately. The four tents will accommodate a total of 2,900 school children, and several school sessions will be held daily. In addition, a total of 10 school kits have so far been distributed to support educational activities in Mutarara district. Additional school tents and educational supplies are expected to be delivered to partners in further designated locations this week. At the Education/Protection Working Group meeting held in Mutarara this week, Cluster partners World Vision and Action Aid indicated their interest to support local education authorities and UNICEF in the distribution of school materials in flood-affected areas. Upon request from the INGC to assist with the distribution of disaster risk reduction IEC materials, UNICEF and education cluster partners have agreed to distribute the materials with the school kits. The IEC materials also include CDs and videos which will be broadcasted through the mobile multi-media units. Protection Protection cluster partner Action Aid is supporting the broadcasting of community radio programmes, in Portuguese and local languages, on child rights, women’s rights, and HIV and AIDS. UNICEF is providing IEC materials on child rights to facilitate the activities. The Deputy Inspector of Police is visiting Caia, Mutarara, Mopeia and Morrumbala districts this week to review and monitor the situation with regards to the deployment of police staff in all resettlement centres. In the newly established transit centre in Mutarara Town, old UXOs have been identified. As an immediate action, UNICEF and cluster partner Handicap International are preparing mine risk educational leaflets and are mobilising mine risk educators, who have received training last year during the 2007 floods. Logistics and telecommunications support UNICEF is currently looking into the procurement of four generators for Mutarara and Caia. One generator will be allocated to the Mutarara District Hospital while the other three will serve for the UNICEF bases in Mutarara and Caia. One 10Mt boat and one 8Mt boat have been made available for the transportation of supplies to and from Mutarara. One helicopter is currently flying a full schedule, transporting food and non-food items to the flood-affected areas. The second helicopter remains out of service while awaiting spare parts to arrive from Dubai. In light of the worsening flood situation, UNHAS has requested a third helicopter scheduled to arrive in Caia next week. The Emergency Telecommunication Cluster (ETC), with support from Telecom sans Frontieres, continues to install telecommunication equipment and provides support to INGC and the humanitarian community in each of the emergency operation centres. Activities this week included the installation of a BGAN and proxy-server by TSF, to decrease the charge on the VSAT in CENOE Caia. This BGAN will remain until a new VSAT is set up. UNICEF is moving forward in consolidating a request to OCHA Brindisi, Italy, for access to additional water and sanitation supplies, health and nutrition and non-food items available in Brindisi. This request is being processed with support from OCHA Maputo. In addition, UNICEF is compiling a list of additional supplies to be procured and flown into Mozambique in anticipation of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the latter part of February. The supplies will be pre-positioned in various hubs, for distribution to partners and affected populations. Inter-agency collaboration and key partnerships All clusters continue to meet on a regular basis to share information on the situation and to coordinate the emergency response in the flood-affected areas. Tools have been developed to monitor implementation, geographical coverage and distribution of supplies for each Cluster. For more information, please contact: Thierry Delvigne-Jean Lynda DeGuire Lisa Doherty Annelien Groten
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