Flood update.

The level of the Zambezi River was slowly falling at all the measuring stations, OCHA said in its latest Mozambique update on Tuesday. It added that levels of the Buzi and the Save rivers were also reducing. “For the coming days, no exceptional rain is foreseen in the downstream area of the Zambezi River, indicating that the situation continues to be improving. However, localized showers could occur in Sofala and Tete provinces in the afternoons and evenings. Rain and thundershowers are expected over high ground in the northern provinces of Niassa, Nampula and Cabo Delgado,” OCHA noted. According to OCHA the Director of the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) stated last week that humanitarian operations in the flood-affected areas would have to continue for at least one month more. It added that an immunisation campaign was continuing in the accommodation centres. “Children under five receive measles vaccine and everyone in the centre is targeted for meningitis immunisation. Pregnant women receive anti-tetanus vaccines,” said OCHA. OCHA added that the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) reported that 52.1 percent of its US $2.9 million appeal had been covered. It said that 23 percent of the total appeal had been received in cash and 29.1 percent in goods and services. “The governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States have pledged or provided cash and/or in-kind contributions bilaterally or through NGOs or the UN system. As of 9 April, OCHA recorded US $12 million,” the update said. Meanwhile in Malawi, more than 330,000 people have been displaced and 59 people lost their lives in 13 of Malawi’s 27 districts during the recent heavy rains and floods, OCHA said in its latest update on Tuesday. It added that a joint FAO/WFP food assessment mission which was completed on 19 March estimated the crop damage at between 10 and 80 percent and the total crop affected area at 41,706 hectares. OCHA said the government of Botswana had 16 motor boats for flood relief operations and that to date, the governments of Botswana, Canada, China, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United States had pledged or provided cash and or in-kind contributions bilaterally or through NGOs or the UN system. As of 9 April, OCHA recorded US $424,379 in donor contributions.