Flooding destroyed important infrastructure in several provinces

The humanitarian community in Mozambique, including United Nations agencies, IOM, Red Cross and various NGOs, launched a $30.1 million response and recovery proposal last week, to address the needs of over 160,000 flood-affected people in hard-hit Zambézia province in central Mozambique. The proposal responds to a request from the Government of Mozambique to mobilize additional relief resources and supports the nationally-led emergency system and effort underway.

Last week, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in New York approved a first life-saving allocation of $3.2 million to support most affected populations in accommodation centres in Zambézia.

"The floods have devastated large parts of some of the most disadvantaged communities in Mozambique. Every bit of help will be necessary to make sure people don’t slip further into deprivation and can return quickly to productive livelihoods", Jennifer Topping, United Nations Resident Coordinator and chairperson of the Humanitarian Country Team in Mozambique, said.

The strategic objectives of the proposal, which covers the immediate response and 3-4 month recovery phase, include providing lifesaving assistance to flood victims such as shelter, water and sanitation, hygiene, food, health, protection, nutrition and education as well as interventions focused on early economic recovery. Funds will be utilized to restore lost livelihoods and homes, boost logistics and operational capacity, for the speedy distribution of relief items, and stimulate local recovery and reconstruction activities and markets.

Limited access to affected areas continues to hinder effective response, as flooding in the Licungo river basin has seriously damaged a large number of roads and bridges, especially in Zambézia where an estimated 70 per cent of the province remains unreachable by land.

The proposal will be updated in 30 days to more accurately reflect top priority needs as waters recede and access to flooded areas improves.