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Note: This document is from the archive of the Africa Policy E-Journal, published
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Southern Africa: Flood Updates
Southern Africa: Flood Updates
Date distributed (ymd): 010304
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Southern Africa
Issue Areas: +economy/development+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains several documents related to recent new
floods in Southern Africa, particularly Mozambique: (a) an update
from the UN's Integrated Regional Information Network, (b) a short
article by Joe Hanlon, author with Frances Christie of a book just
published on the floods in Mozambique last year, and (c) the
official appeal from the government of Mozambique for international
assistance.
A related posting today contains the executive summary of the
chapter on Africa from a recent report from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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APIC Note:
Please visit http://www.africapolicy.org/desk for the statement
released by the Africa Fund, American Committee on Africa, APIC,
and related networks on the March 5 day of action against the
pharmaceutical company suit trying to block South African
production and import of generic medicines.
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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Southern Africa
Tel: +27 11 880 4633; Fax: +27 11 880 1421;
e-mail: irin-sa@irin.org.za
SOUTHERN AFRICA:
IRIN-SA Weekly Round-up 8 covering the period 24
February - 2 March 2001 [excerpts]
[This item is delivered in the "africa-english" service of the UN's
IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect
the views of the United Nations. For further information, free
subscriptions, or to change your keywords, contact e-mail:
irin@ocha.unon.org or Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN . If you
re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this
credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial sites requires
written IRIN permission.]
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Flood update
Mozambique
Heavy rains continued to lash the region this week, leaving tens of
thousands of people homeless in Mozambique, and causing concern in
Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. News reports said at least 52 people
had died as a result of the floods in Mozambique, which had been
hardest hit. Another 81,000 had been left homeless. AP reported
that on Friday a South African air force cargo plane had arrived at
Beira airport and delivered equipment before heading back to
Pretoria. Four helicopters and three planes from South Africa to be
used in the aid operation were expected to arrive later in the day.
News reports said that about 60,000 people, who were not in
immediate danger, needed to be evacuated.
For more details:
http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/sa/countrystories/mozambique/20010301.phtml
Zambia
A UN spokeswoman in Mozambique told IRIN on Tuesday that a warning
by Zambia that it may be forced to open spillway gates on the
Kariba dam would be "disastrous" for Mozambique, battling with
rising flood waters downstream in the Zambezi valley. The
spokeswoman for the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Mozambique,
Frances Christie, told IRIN that Mozambique's Cahora Bassa dam had
reached peak capacity and had increased its discharge rate into the
Zambezi river valley to 9,000 cubic metres a second, up from 7,500
cubic metres. If more water from Kariba entered Cahora Bassa, more
would have to be discharged "and that's just going to make the
situation downriver disastrous", she said. The 'Times of Zambia'
reported Celestino Chibamba, deputy minister of energy and water
development as saying on Monday: "We sympathize with our Mozambican
counterpart, but the danger is that if the water is not discharged
from the dam, we fear that the damage to be done to the dam might
result in ... lots of disasters." He added that the Zambian
government would try to help minimise the impact on Mozambique.
Malawi
Malawian government officials held an emergency meeting on Monday
to discuss the floods that have killed five people and driven some
200,000 from their homes during the past week, AFP reported. Antony
Livuza, government chief information officer, said the cabinet
committee on disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation "will
work out strategies to mobilise resources and how to transport
relief items to the affected areas." Lucius Chikuni, Malawi's
government commissioner of relief and rehabilitation, said the
country would require about US $1.5 million just for emergency
relief to the affected areas in the south. On Wednesday news
reports said at least 20 people had died from cholera since heavy
rains had flooded parts of eastern and southern Malawi.
For more details:
http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/sa/countrystories/mozambique/20010226.phtml
Zimbabwe
The floods that hit the northeastern Muzarabani region of Zimbabwe
last week pose a serious health threat, raising fears of a major
cholera and malaria outbreak in the Zambezi valley, the independent
'Daily News' said on Wednesday. Goldberg Mangwadu, the provincial
environmental health officer in Mashonaland Central was quoted as
saying that health personnel were last week deployed to the Zambezi
valley to assess the health needs of the flood-hit areas. "The
floods provide breeding ground for mosquitoes while all the water
sources such as boreholes were washed away, raising fears of a
cholera outbreak because the people have no alternative for clean
water sources," said Mangwadu. Meanwhile, Madzudzo Pawadyira, the
director of the National Civil Protection Unit was quoted as saying
that donor funds had started to trickle in for the flood victims.
"We have dispatched vehicles that provide water purification
tablets to avoid a possible outbreak of diarrhoeal and cholera
diseases," said Pawadyira.
Friday, 2 March, 2001
Mozambique: Prepared but overwhelmed
Rescue efforts combine local and international expertise
By Joseph
Hanlon, co-author of a new book on last year's Mozambique floods
As floodwaters rise on the Zambezi, Mozambique's navy has picked
up more than 8,000 stranded people using rubber boats donated by
the international community for last year's floods.
This is the second year of major flooding, and a similar pattern
is emerging.
Both this year and last year, predictions of heavy rain led to
flood warnings and extensive preparation by the Mozambican
government, local non-government organisations such as the Red
Cross, and United Nations agencies such as the World Food
Programme.
But Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in the
world, and record-breaking floods soon exhaust the capacity of
the government - and of neighbouring countries.
International help is needed to provide fuel for the boats and
helicopters, and to provide tents, food and clean water for the
tens of thousands who are forced to flee to high ground.
Media images
Dramatic television pictures and appeals for help by international
agencies tend to present a picture of helplessness.
But they miss the extensive preparation and organisation which had
already been done at local level.
Research for my book on last year's floods pointed to three months
of preparation, which provided an essential foundation and
infrastructure for the massive international support.
Local input
The result was remarkably successful international cooperation,
with human, material and financial international aid providing
vital help to the Ministry of Health, Red Cross and local
government who were already in action dealing with huge numbers of
displaced people.
One improvement on last year is an increased participation by
the Mozambican military.
Last year the Mozambican military rescued 17,000 people, but
with very few boats and no helicopters. This year, the boats
donated by the international community for last year's flood
were put to use quickly.
Mozambique's air force has only two helicopters, but this year,
because of the advance warnings, both were serviced and ready to
fly, and are now in use for rescue and reconnaissance.
Rescue efforts
In the same way as last year, many people are currently refusing
to abandon their homes and cattle even though they are being given
adequate warning.
As the water rises, some of these need to be rescued.
But the South African helicopters and planes now arriving in
Mozambique will mainly be used to get food and other supplies to
the tens of thousands of people forced to flee to high ground.
In many cases they are camped in places totally cut off by
floodwaters from access by road and can only be supplied by air.
With a record flood in a very poor country, international help is
essential. But that help is only effective because of local
organisation.
"Mozambique and the Great Flood of 2000" is available from James
Currey Publishers, at œ11.95 (about $18) plus postage. Contact
orders@plymbridge.com or jamescurrey@dial.pipex.com or phone +44
(0)1865 24 64 54.
Special Appeal by the Government of Mozambique to deal with floods
in the centre of the country - 2001
February 22, 2001
Executive Summary
[For full report and additional updates see
http://unsystemmoz.org]
The forecast made by the Southern African Climate Outlook Forum
(SARCOF) last September of normal to above-normal rainfall in the
centre of Mozambique during the 2000/2001 rainy season has proved
correct. The country has been facing an emergency situation since
23 January, initially in Zambezia Province and then in northern
parts of Sofala Province, resulting from the passage of a tropical
storm.
The situation then spread to Tete and Manica provinces, because of
heavy rainfall in the country, discharge from dams on the Zambezi
River and increased flows on its tributaries. Thus districts in
four provinces have been affected in the Zambezi Valley.
As a result of the combined effects of the rain and the floods,
some 77,000 people have been displaced and about 389,000 in the
four provinces are affected. Moreover, by 19 February the number of
confirmed deaths stood at 41.
Many roads in the centre of the country have become impassable,
wells in rural and peri-urban areas have been flooded and the
sanitary conditions in urban centres have deteriorated.
Immediately following the SARCOF forecast, the government began
working on the preparation of a contingency plan, in partnership
with the United Nations, donors and NGOs. From October to December
2000 public awareness campaigns were conducted in areas at risk and
the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and the World
Food Programme (WFP) positioned stocks of food and relief goods,
including boats, in strategic locations.
Besides heavy rains inside Mozambique itself, neighbouring Malawi
and Zambia have also experienced torrential rain, producing
enormous volumes of water that increased the flows in the Zambezi,
Pungoe, Revubue and Ligonha Rivers.
While it is not expected that floods this year will reach the scale
of 2000, nevertheless conditions must be prepared in the affected
districts to avoid this emergency from becoming a catastrophe.
Floods increase the risk of outbreaks of disease, such as cholera,
and of higher incidence of malaria. The health authorities estimate
that US$ 5.9 million will be needed to replenish stocks of
essential drugs, to provide basic health services in the
accommodation centres, and to support epidemiological surveillance
and preventive response.
Moreover, torrential rain and floods have damaged roads and
bridges, which must be repaired to allow access to isolated
communities. Some US$ 6.4 million is required for road and bridge
repair.
Furthermore, displaced people need to be sheltered and fed while
they are in accommodation centres. The cost of supplying blankets,
plastic sheeting, kitchen kits and other essential relief items is
estimated at US$3.6 million.
With regard to fuel needs, the cost of this is estimated at US$3.0
million, to cover requirements for rescue and relief operations and
for electricity generation in areas isolated by the floods. This
sum includes generators of varying power that will be needed to
ensure electricity supplies to hospitals, accommodation centres,
water pumping stations and communications centres.
Clean water supplies and good sanitary and hygiene conditions are
also vital to ensure that displaced people remain healthy. The
requirements for the provision of safe water and sanitation and the
promotion of good hygiene amount to US$2,400,000.
The economic and social effects of this excessive rainfall have
likewise been huge. Preliminary estimates from the Ministry of
Agriculture & Rural Development indicate that about 33,300 peasant
farming families have been affected, with the loss of 22,400
hectares of crops, mainly maize, rice and cassava. The cost of
providing seeds and tools so that farmers can plant a second crop
is estimated at US$2.3 million. The Ministry of Agriculture & Rural
Development is already in contact with donors and part of these
funds have already been allocated.
The funds required to enable the INGC to coordinate emergency
operations, monitor and evaluate the situation on the ground,
produce and disseminate information on the development of the
situation and coordinate alert and warning systems with the
National Meteorological Institute (INAM) and the Ministry of Public
Works & Housing, as well ensuring flexible mechanisms to allow
people and goods to enter the country in the context of
humanitarian assistance, amount to US$700,000. However, the
estimate could rise if conditions deteriorate sharply. Because of
the upheaval of the emergency, the government is seeking US$200,000
for social programmes among the displaced population in the
accommodation centres.
The statement of needs in the Mozambique government appeal does not
include food. This is because the WFP had pre-positioned food
stocks in strategic locations and is still working with carry-over
supplies from 2000. In fact, the requirements expressed in the
appeal are in addition to assistance provided and pre-positioned by
the other United Nations agencies and are part of implementing the
UN Contingency planning process finalised in December 2000.
The United Nations agencies are now working on the preparation of
a Consolidated Inter-agency appeal in support of the relief efforts
to assist the survivors of the floods.
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the
Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC provides
accessible information and analysis in order to promote U.S.
and international policies toward Africa that advance economic,
political and social justice and the full spectrum of human rights.
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