Floods in Mozambique

Following heavy rains in Mozambique, regions along the Zambezi, Buzi, Pungue and other rivers are under an emergency flood situation. The government of Mozambique has announced a red alert level, triggering the launch of emergency activities in the country. The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) has suggested that the present situation threatens a potentially more destructive and longer duration flood emergency when compared to prior devastating floods in the country.

Thousands of people are displaced and the INGC is engaged in an ongoing temporary resettlement operation. Potentially endangered areas are more densely populated than in the previous flood periods and the population is not presently ready to leave certain areas. The region of Mutarara is partly inaccessible.

UN agencies are present and have activated emergency clusters. A UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) appeal proposal is being prepared and humanitarian goods, equipment and personnel are being brought into the country. Daily meetings are being held in Maputo and Caia, where the INGC is coordinating the emergency response in collaboration with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In Mozambique, members of the global alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, have met and are preparing to respond. Some goods for a first response have been purchased and transported to warehouses. Based on an initial assessment, ACT members are planning food distribution in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), water provision, distribution of non-food items (NFIs) and psycho-social support for affected populations. Longer term activities including community rehabilitation, agriculture support and housing reconstruction could also be needed.

The ACT Mozambique Forum will be in contact with the ACT Coordinating Office (CO) and plans to submit a Rapid Response Fund (RRF) request or ACT appeal in the coming days.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).