Mozambique humanitarian situation update, 13 February 2008
Major Developments Flood response As of 13 February, the water levels along the Zambeze, Buzi, Limpopo, Save, Pungoe and Chire are stabilizing or decreasing. Low to moderate rainfall is forecasted for 13-15 February over the central and northern provinces of Mozambique and for the neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Malawi. The total number of people relocated to resettlement centres across the five provinces affected by flooding now stands at 102,213. Of these, a total of 87,696 are in the Zambeze valley area. One of the spill gates of the Lake Kariba Dam was opened on 11 February with a discharge of 750 cubic metres per second. So far, the Cahora Bassa Dam discharge has not increased and remains at 4,000 cubic metres per second. UNICEF Response to the Zambeze Floods Management and coordination In light of the opening of one of Lake Kariba Dam spill gates, although not perceived as an immediate threat by the Mozambican authorities, the Emergency Operations Centre (COE) in Caia has called for a meeting of all organisations involved in search and rescue operations to discuss and come up with a response plan in the event of a drastic increase in river water levels. Health and nutrition A localised outbreak of acute diarrhea has been reported in Mutarara District. The cause of the outbreak is being investigated. The district health authorities and cluster partners (UNICEF, MSF, Oxfam, Red Cross) have responded with provision of additional medical supplies and the setting-up of treatment facilities. So far, four treatment centres have opened and are in use. A cumulative number of 342 cases have been recorded in all four Cholera Treatment Centres (CTC) combined and eight deaths have been confirmed. The situation is being monitored very closely. As an immediate response to the outbreak, UNICEF in partnership with the district authorities and other partners, are scaling-up behavior change communication/social mobilization activities to accelerate the promotion of improved hygiene and sanitation. A training of 32 activists on hygiene, use of latrines and first aid is underway in Charre resettlement centre, supported by district health authorities. Malaria activities are ongoing and an additional 10,000 malaria nets have been procured and dispatched, bringing the total to 63,800 LLINS distributed to affected areas. Furthermore, residual spraying is taking place in Marromeu and a request from DDS has been received for the funding of 20 workers to carry out spraying for two weeks in Mutarara district. Water and sanitation Three water treatment plants are already providing water in Mutarara town, including water trucked to the hospital and the Quartel transit centre in town. UNICEF, MSF and DPOPH have increased provision of potable water through the installation of additional water bladders. In Bawe and Mpane centres, water capacity has been increased by DPOPH, MSF and Oxfam with UNICEF support and will be increased further through the provision of additional 10,000lt bladders in Bawe and Mandua to cope with increasing numbers of arrivals. To facilitate the acceleration of construction of latrines, the distribution of plastic slabs is ongoing. In Mutarara district 700 plastic slabs were received for further distribution while in Caia 200 latrines have been constructed providing access to safe sanitation for over 4,000 people. In resettlement centres in Mopeia district, repair of hand pumps is ongoing and will be completed this week to ensure access to safe drinking water. In Zona Verde and 24 de Julho water trucking is ongoing supported by UNICEF and partners. Education A total of 66 school tents have reached the flood affected areas, 47 of which have been set-up and the remainder in the process of being established. The temporary structures are supplementing the existing schools in order to ensure all children have access to a learning environment. Out of a total of 78,349 learners kits which have been distributed to the flood affected areas, approximately half have been delivered to children with the balance in the process of being delivered. An additional 810 teachers kits and 195 school kits arrived in the flood-affected areas and nearly half of those have already been distributed to schools to ensure that quality of education is maintained. Protection The Chief of the National Department for Women and Children from the Ministry of the Interior (MINT) met with UNICEF Caia, Mutarara and Mopeia to discuss deployment of police officers to resettlement and transit centres. A total of 122 police officers have been deployed to five provinces (43 in Zambezia, 28 in Tete, 24 in Manica, 24 in Sofala and 3 in Inhambane). INGC will provide tents and household items for the officers and UNICEF has been asked to monitor the situation and notify MINT of any irregularities. Funds have already been disbursed to MINT at provincial level to support the deployments. In all locations, police staff are carrying out prevention and counselling activities for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. In coordination with INGC, leaflets on UXOs will be distributed in the Quartel transit centre in Mutarara Sede where UXOs were discovered. An assessment of the area will be carried out by Handicap International activists and additional IEC materials will arrive in the district on 13 February for further dissemination. Cluster partner World Vision in Mutarara is investigating the possibility of providing solar-powered lighting and torches in resettlement and transit centres as additional protection measures for women and children. Logistics and telecommunications support WASH, education and protection supplies are all being dispatched on a regular basis using air, truck and boat transport. Currently three helicopters, five boats and trucks are in use. This week, Mutarara hub has been the main recipient of Health and WASH supplies. Cluster partners are collecting their respective supplies for onward distribution to all resettlement and transit centres, as per the distribution plan. Currently, five warehouses are available in Caia, two for non-food items and three for food supplies. One warehouse for non-food items has been installed in Mutarara by WFP and a second warehouse for food items will be set up shortly. Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) is exploring possibilities to provide communication facilities for displaced people in Mutarara. 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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