Government appeals for US $30 million

Mozambique has appealed for US $30 million over the next three months to deal with a flood crisis that has hit the centre of the country, the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator in Maputo said in a report on Thursday. Torrential rains and floods have affected about 400,000 people and displaced an estimated 70,000 in the provinces of Zambezia, Sofala, Tete and Manica. So far 41 people have been confirmed dead. The report said that roads and bridges have been washed away and needed to be repaired to allow access to isolated communities. The repair bill was estimated at US $4.7 million, with a further US $7.2 million needed for the transportation of humanitarian assistance before pre-positioned stocks run out. The report noted that about US $3 million was required to cover fuel supplies for rescue and relief operations. Health authorities estimated that US $5.9 million was needed to replenish stocks of essential medicines and to provide basic health care services to people in accommodation centres and to support epidemiological surveillance and preventive responses. "The cost of supplying blankets, plastic sheeting, kitchen kits and other essential relief items is estimated at US $3.6 million," the report said. It added that the provision of safe water and sanitation and promotion of "good hygiene" amounted to US $2.4 million. Preliminary estimates from the ministry of agriculture and rural development indicated that 44,000 farming families have so far been affected, with 27,000 hectares of crops lost. In Zambezia province alone, 23,000 hectares have been washed away. "The cost of providing seeds and tools so that farmers can plant a second crop is estimated at US $2.3 million," the report said. The report added that an estimated US $700,000 was needed by the government's disaster management authority, the INGC, to coordinate emergency operations.