The Council of ministers reported that the continued rains in Upper Zambezia and Sofala province have led to extensive infrastructural damage and potential severe crop damage.

Although in negotiations with Zimababwe and Zambia, Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa dam is still releasing water into the Zambezi Valley river system, which continues to cause difficulties for those families living along the river banks. Papers in Mozambique state that the Zambeze River is now 1.3 metres above alert level.

The troubles began in the week of January 20-25 when a tropical depression hit Zambezia causing flooding in Pebane, Maganja de Costa, Namacurra, Nicoadala, Mopeia and Morrumbala. This rain belt then headed south towards Northern Sofala and, combined with the rising river levels from the Dam releases caused flooding in Caia, Chemba and Morromeu districts of Sofala and Mutarara district in Tete.

ACT member, Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), is assisting in Quelimane, Nicoadala and Namacurra with food and blankets and is currently training volunteers to distribute chlorine tablets and educate communities in the use of these tablets to ensure clean drinking water. The longer-term proposal is to provide seeds and tools to those identified as in need.

ACT members Lutheran World Fedaration (LWF) and The Presbyterian Church of Mozambique (IPM), through their contingency plans, are getting ready to assist CCM in whatever ways possible. IPM has committed 500 survival kits to Zambezia. LWF has pre-positioned stocks of plastic sheeting, blankets, jerry cans, tents, tinned goods, health kits and used clothes in Nhamatanda, mid point to Sofala.

Although not an ACT partner, Ecumenical Committee for Social Development, CEDES, may work in conjunction with LWF to respond in Chemba, Caia and Morromeu and Northern Sofala. Needs assessments are being prepared for Sofala and Tete.

Malawi

At least 60,000 people have been displaced in southern Malawi following heavy rains over most of the country, reports say. Worst hit was the district of Nsanje in the flood-prone Lower Shire Valley close to Mozambique. A Malawian relief official was quoted as saying that whole families had taken refuge in small patches of high ground and in schools and churches. "The situation is becoming desperate since all roads to the area have been destroyed so relief efforts are becoming impossible", he said.

The ACT Coordinating Office in Geneva is still unable to contact ACT member Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD) in Malawi because communication lines were not available.