The
2006/7 rainy season has been characterised by excessive rains that
have caused floods in low-lying areas in a number of districts in
the country. The rains started in September 2006, to date. The major
areas affected by the floods are Chama, Lundazi and Mambwe in the
Eastern Province and Chavuma West, Zambezi West, Mwinilunga, and Solwezi
in the North Western Province. The floods have collapsed houses, submerged
roads and washed away bridges, crops and household food stores. This
has left the affected communities homeless and without food. Furthermore,
these communities are cut off from other parts of the districts where
they would otherwise get assistance from.
The
exact magnitude of the damages and numbers of people affected have not
yet been established. The Government through the Disaster Management
and Mitigation Unit under the Office of the Vice President, cooperating
partners and NGOs are in the process of conducting rapid assessments
on the situation. In some of the affected districts such as Solwezi
and Mwinilunga in the North Western Province, the local District Disaster
Management Committees and the Zambia Redcross have been assisting in
the reconstruction of alternative shelters and distributing tents to
the affected people. However, a comprehensive report on the floods situation
is expected from Government in the second week of February 2007.
The ACT forum in
Zambia consisting of DanChurch Aid, Diakonia, Council of Churches of
Zambia, Lutheran World Federation and Norwegian Church Aid intend to
respond to assist the flood victims through an ACT Appeal to cover Chama,
Lundazi and Mambwe (in the Eastern province) and Chavuma and Zambezi
in the North Western province. Whilst waiting for the official report
from Government, the forum has tasked members Lutheran World Federation
and Norwegian Church Aid to undertake field trips to Eastern and North
Western Provinces respectively to collect concrete information on the
floods situation, for use in planning for probable intervention. The
assessment teams have since been deployed in the field.
The
envisaged response will be to provide the flood victims with relief
food, clothing, shelter and household cooking utensils in the short
term. In the medium term, rehabilitation activities in food security
and capacity building of the affected communities in disaster management
and preparedness, will be undertaken. The beneficiary targeting will
be done in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Committees,
Village Satellite committees and other stakeholders including ACT
member churches operating in the areas.
The
short-term response / assistance is expected to take about three months
from the time of funding of the Appeal, while the medium term (rehabilitation)
activities are expected to take six months. The resources required
will be both in kind contributions (such as clothing, shelter and
household cooking utensils - were applicable), and cash to purchase
food and to finance the rehabilitation activities. The cost and a
detailed budget will be submitted with the Appeal.
Council
of Churches in Zambia and Lutheran World Federation will implement
the project while DanChurch Aid, Diakonia and Norwegian Church Aid
will assist with the fund raising for the appeal. The ACT forum members
will work closely with the government, the churches, local leadership,
community leadership and other NGOs working in the affected areas.
The
ACT Appeal will be submitted by the 15th of February 2007.
