300 000 people have been affected by the January 2015 floods

During the 2014/2015 rainy season, Mozambique was hit by heavy rains that led to severe flooding, particularly between the months of January and March 2015. On 12 January, the Council of Ministers declared a red alert for the central and northern regions of the country. FAO National Emergency Coordinator in the provinces of Zambézia and Sofala, Alberto Chidiamassamba, arrived in the affected area on 23 February and visited several districts of both provinces in March. We chatted to Alberto about his experiences dealing with the emergency.

FAO Mozambique (FAOMZ): What situation did you encounter in both provinces after they had been hit by the January floods?

Alberto Chidiamassamba (AC): When I arrived at both provinces, the rain was still intense and persistent, mainly in Zambézia. The rivers still carried a great volume of water. The affected families were still being assisted, the access roads remained impassable. There were isolated villages and administrative posts as well as destroyed and/or damaged bridges, irrigation schemes, water supply systems and other economic and social infrastructure. There were flooded agricultural areas where planting and cultures had been washed away. Due to excessive humidity and high levels of superficial erosion, the soils were also saturated. Many families had lost the few goods they possessed, and were living under precarious conditions. The local authorities and the cooperation partners were assisting the population. No matter what their capacities and resources were, all of them were highly engaged.

FAOMZ: What is the estimated long-term impact of the floods on local agriculture?

AC: For me, the long-term impact still is not clear. However, in the short and medium terms, floods of this magnitude momentarily interrupt the normal cycle of agricultural activities; they destroy local food and seed stocks. They kill small animals which are a source of protein and supplementary revenue resource for the families. Thus, floods tear apart the programming and normal management of the productive process in agriculture, in particular, and in the agrarian sector, in general. This takes time to recover. Families are obliged to divide efforts to resume agricultural activities and, at the same time, rebuild their homes.

FAOMZ: FAO is assisting 11,000 families in Zambézia and Sofala, two of the hardest hit provinces by the floods of the beginning of this year. In partnership with the Government of Mozambique and the Mozambican non-governmental organization KULIMA, FAO has distributed seeds and work tools among the most vulnerable households in seven districts in both provinces. What impact can FAO's support have on the lives of these families?

AC: We are talking about families who lost almost everything they had. In some villages, the seeds and tools they received have been used to resume agricultural production immediately, since the soil still retained residual humidity as it continued raining, giving the farmers hope of getting some harvest in the following months. In other cases, the families, using the tools they got, prepared their fields for the timely planting of the seeds in order to guarantee a crop as soon as possible. Therefore, the kits the families received served as an incentive and motivated them to go back to their fields; the kits brought hope.

FAOMZ: Floods are a recurrent phenomenon in Mozambique, especially along the biggest rivers and the main hydrographical basins of the country. What actions shall be taken in the long term so that assistance in recovery remains sustainable?

AC: I do not wish to suggest concrete actions. In any case, whatever actions are taken in the long term to make recovery assistance sustainable require deep knowledge of the sociological and cultural reality as well as of the affected families and/or families living in high risk zones. From my understanding, less prepared populations are more vulnerable and, thus, more subject to damage.

FAOMZ: Two tips on safety procedures to those living in risk areas when a flood is imminent:

What measure should be taken in the first place?

AC: To react to and share the first warnings of imminent danger, and to assist the most vulnerable in order to save lives and to protect basic goods.

What should never be done?

AC: No one should underestimate the first sign he/she gets or the first alert of imminent danger.

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the FAO National Emergency Coordinator in the provinces of Zambézia and Sofala, Alberto Chidiamassamba, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FAO.

Due to the floods of early 2015, which mainly hit the central and northern regions of Mozambique, more than 300 000 people have been affected and over 50 000 moved to resettlement centres. Circa 160 people lost their lives. Only on 10 April did the Government declare a green alert for the affected regions.