Office of the Resident Coordinator
Mozambique • Storms
Situation Report 1, 20 January 2012
This report is produced by the Office of the Resident Coordinator in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 16 to 20 January 2012.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
• Mozambique’s Technical Council of Disaster Management is considering issuing a Red Alert
following the escalation of Tropical Storm Funso to a category three tropical cyclone.
• Tropical Storms Dando, a category one storm with associated winds (up to 70km/h) and moderate to
heavy rainfall, caused flooding and damage to houses and schools in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza
and Inhambane in southern Mozambique.
• Heavy rainfall in South Africa and Swaziland caused a steady increase of water levels in the Maputo,
Umbeluzi and Incomati Basins, flooding low-lying areas in Magude and Chokwe.
II. Situation Overview
The Technical Council of Disaster Management (CTGC) composed of Government of Mozambique (GoM) and the members of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) gathered together on 16 January to evaluate the impact of the current rainy and cyclone season. As a preparedness measure, the CTGC declared an Orange Alert to ensure that all emergency actors were ready to intervene or provide any required assistance to the affected areas and populations.
Daily meetings have been held this week to evaluate the evolution of the situation, given the risk of sequential formations of tropical depressions in the Indian Ocean, which could affect the coastal areas of Mozambique. Currently the Tropical Cyclone Funso, which is moving towards central Mozambique, may affect coastal
areas of Zambezia Province, including the following districts:
• Pebane, Maganja da Costa, Namacurra, Quelimane, Chinde and Nicoadala.
• Sofala Province including the following districts: Marromeu, Cheringoma and Mwanza.
• Inhambane Province, including Massinga, Vilanculos, Inhassoro and Govuro districts and
• Sofala districts of Machanga, Buzi, Beira and Dondo are at risk of being affected by moderate winds
of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Dando hit southern Mozambique and flooded the homes of 247 families in Maputo City and
Matola. Dando caused damage in Gaza affecting 2,640 houses, 214 latrines and 169 schools. Schools were
also affected in Inhambane Province, in the district of Zavala where 18 schools (including 72 classrooms and
a dormitory for 300 female students) were damaged.
Heavy to moderate rainfall recorded in South Africa and Swaziland caused water levels to rise steadily in
southern regions. The Incomati Basin increased from 80m3/s up to 830m3/s from 17-18 January and the
Limpopo River flow rose from 20m3/s up to 3200m3/s which is above the alert flow of 3000 m3/s. The
Massingir Dam has increased the amount of water being released from 25m3/s up to 5200m3/s over a twoday period to maintain the storage capacity in anticipation of additional water. Dam outflows have caused
flooding in the districts of Magude and Sabie (Maputo Province) and Chokwe (Gaza province).
In the North the Messalo Basin has risen above the ‘alert level’ due to moderate to heavy rainfall. As a preparedness measure for additional flooding, the National Unit for Civil Protection has procured boats that are strategically pre-positioned in Magude and Chokwe.
III. Humanitarian Needs and Response by Province
Maputo Province
With the improvement of the water situation in the flooded shelters, half of the 247 affected families have
returned to their houses. The remaining families were given ten tents for shelter and seven rolls of plastic
sheets for the construction of toilets. In Matola City, response partners are assessing whether to establish
two temporary shelters for those who remain displaced.
Gaza Province
Response actions are focused in Chokwe, the most affected district. Non-food items for WASH and shelter
and food, including 2,400 kilograms of cereals, 900 kilograms of beans, 900 liters of cooking oil, and 450
kilograms of salt have been mobilized. Assessments by humanitarian and response actors continue.
Meanwhile, water levels and outflow from the Massingir Dam are being closely monitored.
Inhambane Province
To assist the 18 affected schools, the local authorities provided 15 schools tents to the Zavala authorities.
The multi-sectoral teams are still in the field to monitor the situation.
IV. Coordination
With the activation of the Orange Alert by the CTGC on 16 January, daily meetings are being held at CENOE to ensure adequate monitoring of the hydrological situation and the sequence of cyclones that are being formed in the Indian Ocean.
To complement the GoM’s efforts, an HCT coordination meeting was held on Wednesday the 18 January in
which the clusters were advised to actively participate in the CTGC meetings and in the CENOE sectors.
Clusters were also advised to take part in the multi-sectoral assessment missions to the affected areas to
ensure that the affected population received adequate assistance.
The HCT clusters members and partners are collaborating with INGC in all assessments, monitoring and
response missions to cover the needs of populations affected in Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces.
V. Contact
For more information please contact:
Jennifer Topping
UN Resident Coordinator, Mozambique
Tel: +258 21 48 51 58
Jennifer.topping@one.un.org
Lola Castro - Maputo
Country Representative, World Food Programme
Tel: +258 82 301 428 0
Lola.castro@wfp.org
Casimiro Sande - Maputo
Humanitarian Country Team Working Group
Tel: +258 82 07 36 71 0
casimiro.antonio@one.un.org
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