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Note: This document is from the archive of the Africa Policy E-Journal, published by the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC) from 1995 to 2001 and by Africa Action from 2001 to 2003. APIC was merged into Africa Action in 2001. Please note that many outdated links in this archived document may not work.


Southern Africa: Flood Actions Update

Southern Africa: Flood Actions Update
Date distributed (ymd): 000302
Document reposted by APIC

+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++

Region: Southern Africa
Issue Areas: +economy/development+ +US policy focus+ Summary Contents:
This posting contains several recent documents with additional information related to the floods in Southern Africa, particularly Mozambique, and a variety of actions that can be taken both for immediate relief and for longer-term reconstruction from the disaster. It also repeats some sources cited in an earlier posting on February 13 ( http://www.africafocus.org/docs00/flod0002.php>).

+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

APIC Update

Last night (March 1, 2000) President Clinton announced that he will substantially expand U.S. assistance to flood-ravaged Mozambique and other countries in the region. He said $12.8 million was committed for relief operations from USAID and the Department of the Defense and that there would be an additional deployment of six C-130 support aircraft and six heavy lift helicopters. (http://www.usia.gov) It was not yet clear as of this posting how quickly the planes would arrive, and what additional support, if any, the U.S. would commit for public health and reconstruction efforts. Officials in the U.S. and elsewhere seemed to be scrambling to react to increased media attention and public pressure to respond. However, Mozambican President Chissano yesterday commented that the international response -- for which he expressed thanks -- still fell far short of the needs.

Recommended for Updates:

http://www.africanews.org/south/mozambique

http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/archive/mozambique.htm

http://www.tropical.co.mz/~wim/moclinks.html (Mozambique on-line -- in Portuguese)

The Mozambique on-line site gives links to a bank account in Mozambique for sending money to support Mozambican Red Cross activities directly. If this is not possible for you in a timely fashion -- it requires getting your bank to locate the bank number and to make a wire transfer, there are many other options suggested below -- choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

Mozambican Red Cross
Banco Comercial de Mocambique
Account Number: 2025555151 (U.S. dollars)

Bank Contact Information:
Av. 25 de Setembro, 1800, Maputo
Caixa Postal 865
Tel. (258)-1-307490/4; 307481/9
Fax. (258)-1-307554; 307556; 307545


How to Help Mozambique Flood Victims

Message posted March 1, 2000
by David Wiley, Michigan State University African Studies (wiley@msu.edu)

(This material was assembled by Elizabeth MacGonagle <macgonag@msu.edu>, History/African Studies Center, Michigan State University, and by David Wiley, MSU African Studies Center)

THE SITUATION IN MOZAMBIQUE

The floods in Mozambique have set back immeasurably what Pres. Clinton said last week is "one of the fastest growing economies in Africa," as this nation crawls back from the devastation of the Independence and Renamo wars of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Since the beginning of February, floods and damage from the recent Cyclone Eline have claimed at least 200 lives in Mozambique and forced at least 800,000 people to flee their homes for higher ground. The threat of starvation and drowning for those who have not yet been reached follows in the wake of the flooding.

The floods are considered to be the worst in at least 40 years. Damaged water mains and power lines have meant that many people are without clean water or electricity. Cases of cholera and malaria are expected to rise dramatically. The government has stated that it needs $65 million to help it begin to cope with and recover from the disaster.

Mozambique is helping itself. Government ministers are heading work brigades in all the affected provinces. In the cities and towns, the local councils are in charge of relief work, housing and feeding the homeless and marking out new residential areas for those living in unsafe places. The health and public works sectors in particular, and brigades from the water and electricity companies, have been working day and night. Many national NGOs, such as the Mozambique Red Cross, also went into emergency action. A Mozambican movement of solidarity has been launched, and contributions in cash and kind have been pouring in from institutions, public and private companies, and individuals through their workplaces. Most contributions are being channeled to the Red Cross. The rains are expected to continue into March, with untold consequences for Mozambique's people.

HOW TO HELP

People who would like to make monetary donations are encouraged to contact one of the organizations working in the region. Below you will find different options (international and local/Mozambican) for joining a coordinated and effective public response.

1) Contact information for Non-Profit Organizations Providing Disaster Relief for Flooding in Southern Africa: http://www.info.usaid.gov/about/safrica/ngopvo.html

This is a list of 22 private voluntary organizations that are registered with USAID and/or listed by InterAction, a coalition of voluntary humanitarian and development organizations that work overseas. It includes well known groups such as American Friends Service Committee, Concern Worldwide US, United States Fund for UNICEF, and CARE USA.

2) The Mozambican government's website includes an appeal for assistance and provides Mozambican bank account numbers for donations to support the Mozambican Red Cross. However, for those outside of Mozambique transferring money to these accounts may be difficult. You can access the official Mozambican page with the bank account numbers at: http://www.mozambique.mz/cheias/index.htm

It may be easier to contact the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent at: http://www.ifrc.org/ or one of the organizations below.

For a direct link to Red Cross/Red Crescent news stories and situation reports on the crisis in Mozambique, visit: http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/cn6.asp?countryid=120 (To make a donation, see the "help now" section).

3) To assist with immediate relief efforts through one Mozambican NGO, Reconstruindo a Esperanca (Rebuilding Hope), contact their non-profit fiscal agent in the US: Artists for a New Southern Africa 9000 West Washington Boulevard, 2nd floor Culver City, CA 90232
Tel: (310) 815-0457
(write checks to "Reconstruindo a Esperanca")

For the past six years Reconstruindo a Esperanca (Rebuilding Hope) has been working in one area -- Josina Machel Island --that has been devastated by the floods. Josina Machel, in northern Maputo province, is a remote and poor area that was the target of both FRELIMO and RENAMO raids during the war and has a high concentration of former child soldiers. Reconstruindo a Esperanca (RE) has worked with over 600 male and female child soldiers, their families and communities. Their goal has been these children's psycho-social reintegration and they have worked closely with local traditional healers and religious leaders. They started several self-help initiatives and gained international recognition for their work.

Like many organizations, RE quite suddenly lost its international funding when their German supporters diverted their priorities to Kosovo. RE remains on Josina Machel in spite of the fact that their staff has been receiving reduced or no wages since June. They are the first (and perhaps only) organization to recognize and address the needs of female child soldiers--the thousands of girls used as sexual slaves on military bases. RE's Director, Boia Efraime, was selected this year as one of Human Rights Watch's four worldwide Human Rights Monitors. At the moment, they are the main source of relief to Josina Machel.

4) Vetaid in the UK has an MOZAMBIQUE EMERGENCY FLOOD APPEAL which is focusing on (a) checking on livestock which has been left behind and saving as much as possible, (b) putting in place a programme of restocking to replace the animals that have died, and (c) removing dead animals to prevent disease. http://www.vetaid.org/emergency/index.htm

5) Church World Service (World and National Council of Churches) is in Mozambique, providing support and evaluating technical needs. CWS is seeking $200,000 to support needs in the area, and is providing $10,000 in Blanket Funds to our partner, the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), which will be used to provide blankets for 2,000 people. http://www.churchworldservice.org/

6) Lobbying the U.S. Government for increasing Mozambican emergency and development

For phone and some email contact numbers for "Key Congressional committees and administration officials related to Africa, 1999-2000" http://www.woaafrica.org/keycongress.htm

To send a message to your Senator and member of the House of Representatives, try the automatic email system of Bread for the World Hunger Action, allowing you to author your own message.


Jubilee 2000 UK

http://www.jubilee2000uk.org

Jubilee 2000 welcomes Mozambican debt service freeze to UK and calls on creditors to cancel 100%

February 29, 2000

With reports that the floods in Mozambique are likely to get worse in the next few days, Clare Short announced yesterday (28 February) that the British government has stopped collecting her debt repayments. The announcement followed growing concern from parliamentarians and the general public about the immorality of collecting debt service payments whilst floods devastate Mozambique.

Clare Short's announcement was confirmed by Gordon Brown during a European Union meeting in Brussels. "We must think what we can do to help Mozambique's economic development out of its current problems," Brown, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, told reporters during a break in a meeting of EU finance ministers. "We would like other countries to follow our lead and provide 100 percent relief of the bilateral debts of Mozambique." Brown also said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank should also see what could be done to help Mozambique.

Jubilee 2000 welcomed the announcements, but emphasised the urgent need for action to be taken by the whole international community to address Mozambique's debts. The UK is owed just $150 million by Mozambique (out of a total debt of over $5billion), and without further action by other creditors including the IMF and World Bank, the debt burden in Mozambique will remain a severe barrier to reconstruction and long-term economic development.

Mozambique is currently paying $1.4 million every week to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and western governments. It is due to receive some debt cancellation in April 2000. However, the extra relief will amount to approximately $250 million (NPV), and will leave Mozambique with annual average payments of $57 million, more than is spent on primary health and education combined.

In a letter to the editor of the Times of London on the 28th February, Ann Pettifor, Director of Jubilee 2000 coalition called for the creditors to fulfil their obligations on debt alongside the aid effort now being mobilised for Mozambique. She noted that Mozambique qualified before the G7 summit in Cologne for debt cancellation, having carried out years of strict economic austerity measures under the IMF.

Pettifor said: "Receiving the G7's promised further debt cancellation should have been a slick process. In the hands of Western creditors it has turned into a cumbersome series of excuses and delays. The president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, said that the hold-up in debt relief for the poorest countries was "delay for delay's sake". This situation in Mozambique - half a million homeless, the threat of epidemics caused by water-related diseases, the devastation of thousands of acres of farmlands - can only get worse. It is the creditors' turn to fulfil their obligations and at the very least deliver on promises made last June. There is no excuse for delay."

Jubilee 2000 backed the call of Graca Machel (former First Lady of Mozambique) for the cancellation of all Mozambique's foreign debt. "These floods are yet another reason for the international community to consider additional measures, such as the cancellation of the debt," she told Portugal's Antena Um radio.

Ann Pettifor, Director of Jubilee 2000 Coalition, said: "The British government has taken an important and welcome unilateral step. However overall debt cancellation for Mozambique is dependent upon the IMF's agreement.

Unless there are real improvements to the IMF debt reduction package agreed last year, Mozambique will still be paying a million dollars each week to lenders in the west - instead of rebuilding the shattered lives of its people. The world's leaders must do better."


Information from USAID site on US NGOs
(http://www.info.usaid.gov)

PLEASE NOTE: the list below in this archived posting is NOT up-to-date or complete -- it has NOT been updated since it was posted on March 2, 2000. For the up-to-date list of U.S. agencies as compiled by USAID see http://www.info.usaid.gov/about/safrica/ngopvo.html

For another listing of US agencies, maintained by the NGO coalition InterAction, see
( http://www.interaction.org/southernafrica).

For more current information, with additional international and Mozambican links, see http://www.africapolicy.org/action/floods.htm

NGO's & PVO's Providing Disaster Relief for Flooding in Southern Africa

The following is a list of non-profit organizations that are providing assistance -- either directly or through affiliated organizations -- to the victims of the flooding in southern Africa.

Air Serv International
P.O. Box 3014
Redlands, CA 92373-0993
Tel: (909) 793-2627
agraham@airserv.org
http://www.airserv.org/

Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief
c/o Banker's Trust Company
P.O. Box 12043
Newark, New Jersey 07101
Tel: 1-800-334-7626 ext. 5129
http://www.pbfwr.org

American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC)
Southern Africa Emergency Fund
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 1-888-588-2372 ext 1
http://www.afsc.org

Food for the Hungry International
7729 East Greenway Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Tel: 1-800-2-HUNGER
http://www.fh.org

American Jewish World Service
Southern Africa Flood Relief
989 Avenue of the Americas
10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 1-800-889-7146
http://www.ajws.org

Lutheran World Relief
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
Tel: 1-800-LWR-LWR2 (597-5972)
http://www.lwr.org

Baptist World Aid
"Southern Africa Flood Relief"
6733 Curran Street
McLean, VA 22101-6005
Tel: (703) 790-8980
BWAid@bwanet.org
http://www.bwanet.org/bwaid/

MAP International
Emergency Relief Fund
2100 Glynco Parkway
Bruinswick, GA 31521-5000
Tel: 1-800-225-8550
http://www.map.org

Brother's Brother Foundation/
Southern Africa
African Floods
1501 Reedsdale Street, Suite 3005
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-2341
Tel: (412) 321-3160
http://www.brothersbrother.com

Salvation Army
World Service Office
Southern Africa Floods
P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313
Tel: (703) 684-5528

CARE USA
151 Ellis Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303-2439
Tel: (404) 681-2552
http://www.care.org

Samaritan's Purse
Southern Africa Floods
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
Tel: (828) 262-1980

Church World Service
Earmark: Southern Africa Floods
PO Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
Tel: 1-800-297-1516
www.churchworldservice.org

Save the Children
P.O. Box 975-M
Westport, CT 06881
Tel: 1-800-SAVE-THE-CHILDREN
http://www.savethechildren.org

Concern Worldwide US Inc
104 East 40th Street, Room 903
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 557-8000
http://www.concernusa.org/

United States Fund for UNICEF
Mozambique Floods
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 922-2659
http://www.unicefusa.org

Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Tel: (805) 964-4767
mhayes@directrelief.org
http://www.directrelief.org

World Relief
P.O. Box WRC
Dept. 3
Wheaton, IL 60189
Tel: 1-800-535-5433
http://www.worldrelief.org

World Vision
Mozambique Disaster Fund
P.O. Box 70288
Tacoma, WA 98481-0288
Tel: 1-888-56CHILD (English)
1-888-511-6566 (Spanish)
http://www.worldvision.org


Some Additional Links

Action by Churches Together (ACT)
http://www.act-intl.org

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

OXFAM UK

Donations:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/atwork/emerg/mozflood12.htm


This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary objective is to widen international policy debates around African issues, by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals.

URL for this file: http://www.africafocus.org/docs00/flod0003.php