UN gives $7.6 million to Mozambique for flood victims

(New York: 23 February 2007): The United Nations has made more than $7.6 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 $1.12 million for logistics and communications activities. An additional $1.13 million will be provided to the WFP in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for health care. The UNICEF will also receive $1 million for water and sanitation, and nearly $500,000 for protection activities. Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will benefit from $1.1 million to support the restoration of food production by small farmers.

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.

Heavy rains across the region have led to localized flooding in several southern African countries this year. Mozambique's Zambezi River valley has been the area most affected by this flooding, as heavy rains continue to fall in the river basin, raising water levels in the river and its major tributaries. The rainfalls have led authorities at the Mozambican Cahora Bassa dam and other facilities feeding into the Zambezi River to discharge water in an attempt to control the flooding.

The situation in the country was expected to further worsen with the impact of tropical cyclone Favio, which made landfall in central Mozambique on Thursday before heading northwards toward the second largest city of Beira. That bearing also takes the cyclone in the direction of the Zambezi river valley -- the area most affected by the flooding. A second storm, cyclone Gamede is headed towards north-eastern Mozambique.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int