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Flooding in southern Mozambique in March 2014 caused widespread damage. Heavy rains caused river levels to rise to 5.9m, flooding over 6,000 homes and destroying infrastructure like bridges and roads. At least 17 people were killed and over 76 injured. The flooding affected over 20,000 hectares of crops. The Mozambique government has worked to improve flood preparation, repairing dikes and relocating people to safer areas. Over 110,000 people have been resettled from high risk zones. However, the heavy rains still displaced over 185,000 people temporarily. The government requested $30.5 million in international aid to help the over 150,000 people affected in Gaza Province over

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67 views3 pages

Community News

Flooding in southern Mozambique in March 2014 caused widespread damage. Heavy rains caused river levels to rise to 5.9m, flooding over 6,000 homes and destroying infrastructure like bridges and roads. At least 17 people were killed and over 76 injured. The flooding affected over 20,000 hectares of crops. The Mozambique government has worked to improve flood preparation, repairing dikes and relocating people to safer areas. Over 110,000 people have been resettled from high risk zones. However, the heavy rains still displaced over 185,000 people temporarily. The government requested $30.5 million in international aid to help the over 150,000 people affected in Gaza Province over

Uploaded by

Fabio Miguel
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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COMMUNITY NEWS

Flooding in March
Causes of the Flooding in the 3 Fevereiro Village
Mozambique's rainy season which is from October to April was currently at its peak, and the
heavy rain that is experienced at this time made water levels along the river reach 5.9m in the
low-lying southern district, which is now the worst affected.
Several rivers from neighboring countries flow down to the coast of Mozambique
and it is home to nine international river basins, and those two factors make it especially
vulnerable to flooding.
Effects of the Flooding in the Area
More than 6 000 people living in the Incomati area are at risk from flooding.
Further upstream the flood has totally damaged communications in Magude district. The bridge
on the road from Magude to the neighbouring district of Moamba is under water, and it is not
clear how badly damaged it is. The roads from Magude to the other parts of the district were cut
down.
Electricity pylons and trees have been destroyed because of the heavy flow of the river.
Farmers and companies weren't unable to move their equipment in time and pumps, tractors
and vehicles are now submerged in water.
According with the State Administration, Carmelita Namashalua, the death toll from floods and
storms in this rainy season (from October 2013 until March) is 17.
Seven people were killed by lightning strikes, five were drowned, four died when houses
collapsed, and one was killed by a falling tree, and 76 people had been injured, 1,665 houses
had been destroyed, and a further 5,905 were damaged.
The flooding affected 20,687 hectares of crops, of which 8,034 hectares were lost, affecting
15,077 peasant households. The amount of crops lost is equivalent to 0.54 per cent of the area
sown.

12,995 cases of diarrhoeal diseases were notified, from January to until the half of February,
with five deaths. Some of these cases occured in Nampula province, were believed to be
cholera. There were also cases of cholera in Tete, Niassa and Zambezia.
Dwellings and infrastructures including roads and bridges have been severely damaged
including an estimated 680 houses inundated. In other provinces, continuous rains have left

around 20,000 affected people and damaged infrastructures and agriculture crops (Inhambane,
Manica, Sofala, Zambezia). Further, the capital Maputo was seriously affected with 5,225
people displaced in 9 temporary sites.

How did the government respond to the flooding?


Mozambiques Prime Minister, Alberto Vaquina made clear that the intensity of the rains in this
season was not very different from previous rainy season and pointed out:
"But the human and social impact has been limited thanks to the government's work in
improving the early warning systems, in repairing protective dikes, and in the gradual removal of
people from dangerous to safer areas".
More resettlement work was taken after the 2007 Zambezi floods. Vaquina also said:
There are now 110 resettlement areas in the Zambezi, Buzi, Save, Limpopo and Incomati
basins, where people are living in relative stability and tranquillity without the risk of losing their
property or their lives, or becoming displaced, every year when the rainy season arrives".
And he added, It was in these areas, that the government has been urging people to settle
abandoning the uncertainty and dangers of zones of risk".
By February, 113 (estimated) people died and over 185,000 people had been temporarily
displaced by the floods. The institutional red alert was lifted on 12 March. They still need
assistance for humanitarian service, both in return and resettlement sites, although weather
conditions did improve, and affected populations have returned with the closure of temporary
centers.
The Government of Mozambique is controlling the coordination and mobilization of resources at its
disposal for response to recent natural disaster (focusing floods) events in the country.
According to the National Contingency Plan for Rain and Cyclone Season of 2012-2013, the
resources mobilized so far are not sufficient to meet the needs of the actual situation. Therefore, on
30 January 2013 the Government of Mozambique requested an instantaneous assistance from
national and international humanitarian partners.
This Response and Recovery Proposal needs USD 30.5 million to license the International
Community:
United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the International Organization for
Migration to help the Government of Mozambique, regarding the needs of 150,000 flood-affected in
Gaza Province people for the period of six months. This proposal is based on additional assessments
done during the last week of January 2014 and includes an initial recovery strategy for helping
people recover and reconstruct their lives. The proposal will be revised within one month to more
confidence reflecting on humanitarian needs of the situation.

The Government of Mozambique also got help from the European Commission that allocated 3 million in
humanitarian aid to help the most vulnerable people affected by heavy rains.
A possible geographical solution or future acions to prevent Floods in Mozambique ?
The access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities is a priority for the new funding to help those
affected by floods. Since cholera outbreaks are endemic in Mozambique and the Gaza Region has a high rate
of HIV and AIDS affected people, the support will also focus on health and protection.

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