There are about 1.7 million people living with HIV and AIDS – 58 per cent are women. Most of the 1,250 units of the health care network are in a less than reasonable state of preservation, with 30% of them without running water. Malaria is the first cause of death in the country, and affects particularly seriously women and children, who have less immunity, and are therefore more vulnerable to the disease. Mozambique ranks 168 out of 177 countries on the 2005 Human Development Index.

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CERF provides US$ 1 million for emergency response to the droughts, floods, and cyclone in southern and central Mozambique

During the early months of 2007, Mozambique suffered a triple disaster: severe shortage of rainfall causing drought in the southern provinces of Gaza, Inhambane and Maputo; devastating flooding in the central region river basins; and a Category 4 cyclone that ravaged coastal districts in the southern province of Inhambane. Although mostly isolated geographically, the simultaneity of the natural catastrophes heightened their impact on the country and has stretched the capacity of the Government of Mozambique to cope with the human and material consequences, which are exacerbated now during the lean season before the next main harvest in March 2008.

Anita Rosario and her family were rescued from the floods [Photo: WFP]

Food assistance is required for up to 520,000 people who face acute food insecurity in Mozambique’s drought-affected South and post-disaster Central region. The Government of Mozambique has requested the World Food Programme's (WFP) continued assistance to meet the needs of the affected population. Without WFP’s food assistance through to the next main harvest in March 2008, it is expected that a half a million people in southern and central Mozambique will face hunger and acute malnutrition. The rapid availability of the CERF funds will ensure that WFP is able to continue its assistance uninterrupted during the critical months of the lean season leading up to the next harvest.

The CERF grant will provide a crucial injection of funds as WFP mounts its response and will be used specifically for the local purchase of emergency food commodities, which will ensure that some 186,500 (of the planned total 471,000) people in drought, flood and cyclone affected districts will receive the food and nutritional support they require. WFP expects to purchase roughly 1,865 tons of cereals with the CERF grant and expects to provide one month’s worth of critically needed food rations to the target population in disaster-affected districts of southern and central Mozambique.

 

[Last update: 26 December 2007]

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CERF funds life-saving activities in the wake of Mozambique floods

23 February 2007: The United Nations has made $11.2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) available for life-saving activities in Mozambique, where severe flooding has displaced some 142,000 people since the beginning of February.

“As the situation steadily worsens in Mozambique, it is critical that we get life-saving activities up and running as quickly as possible”, said Margareta Wahlström, Acting United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator. “The Government of Mozambique has provided strong leadership for the international response. It is important that we support them in minimizing the impact of this disaster to the extent possible.”

Through the grants, some $2.8 million will be made available to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food aid, as well as over $2.5 million for logistics and communications activities. With grants totalling US$ 1.7 million, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and the WHO will be able to cover health care needs of people displaced by the flooding. UNICEF will, in addition to health sector activities, receive US$ 1 million for water and sanitation projects, US$ 464,000 for protection activities, and US$ 420,000 to ensure access to education for 47,000 children aged 5 to 14. The FAO will benefit from US$ 1.1 million to support the restoration of food production by small farmers. UNDP received almost $400,000 for activities in the logistics sector while IOM received a grant of almost US$ 800,000 to respond to shelter needs and procure non-food items.

Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) estimates that as many as 285,000 people could be affected by the flooding if the situation worsens.  The INGC is leading efforts to respond to the disaster, operating at least 55 accommodation and resettlement centres at which the displaced are being sheltered throughout the affected areas and coordinating other assistance.

For their part, the United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the Red Cross in the country have been working to support the Government in providing food, health care, clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, education and communications, among other assistance.  The WFP reports that it has distributed food to some 33,500 people affected by the floods.

Rising waters threaten homes on the flooded Zambezi river [Photo: Reuters]

On 13 March 2007, The United Nations and its humanitarian partners yesterday launched a Flash Appeal for US$ 17.7 million [click here for press release] to support the Mozambican government’s response to humanitarian needs arising from severe flooding that began in February and from the impact of Cyclone Favio, which struck Vilanculos on 22 February. The funds will be used to provide relief and recovery assistance for 435,000 affected people for a period of up to six months. The Appeal comes in response to the Government’s US$ 71 million Recovery and Reconstruction Plan launched on 5 March, which focuses on the resettlement of people, the reactivation of agricultural production, water supplies and roads, health and educational support, the reconstruction of public infrastructure and rapid recovery support to the private sector.

Since the beginning of February, torrential rains caused rivers to overflow – including the Zambezi – and increased pressure on dams, which resulted in widespread flooding in the central and southern parts of Mozambique. Mozambique’s National Institute of Disaster Management estimates that 285,000 people have been affected by the floods; of these 163,000 have been displaced and are now sheltered in accommodation sites and resettlement centres. It is also estimated that more than 150,000 people were affected by Cyclone Favio.

“I commend the Government on its quick and timely response. The planning and preparedness by disaster management authorities there has meant that despite dam levels comparable to those of 2000-2001, this has so far been a significant but not catastrophic disaster,” said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.  “The leadership shown by the national authorities has allowed the UN and its partners to support where and as needed to ensure that the people affected are able to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible. “

While the Government has allocated funds to respond to the impacts of the flood and cyclone, national resources are not sufficient to meet the humanitarian needs of the affected populations.  In addition, after more than 40 days of extensive relief operations, the in-country supplies of the international humanitarian community are fast running out, prompting the UN to seek urgent funding to continue humanitarian activities.

Immediate needs include food security, health and nutrition, shelter, child protection, education, logistics and coordination. Initial funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in the amount of US$ 9.6 million, as well as other donors, has been made available to the United Nations agencies to enable them to jump-start their activities ahead of the anticipated donor response to the Flash Appeal.  Other donors have also expressed support for the relief activities; for example, ECHO immediately released euro 4 million soon after the flood waters rose in central Mozambique and the cyclone swept through the eastern coast.  USAID has also provided funding for emergency activities and is considering several projects for additional support.

[Last update: 27 March 2007]

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CERF in Mozambique 2008

Click here to download the 2007 Floods and Cyclone Flash Appeal for Mozambique 
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