CERF allocates more than $700,000 in emergency agriculture response to Mozambique
27 March 2013: In early January 2013, Mozambique was severely hit by heavy rains, causing flooding throughout the country. Since then, an estimated 478,892 people have been directly affected. A total of 117 people died and more than 176,000 people have been internally displaced.
As subsistence agriculture is the main livelihood for about 80 per cent of the flood-affected rural areas, CERF recognized the need to protect vulnerable households from extreme food insecurity levels, and to ensure a minimum of livelihoods and production capacity.
The Government estimates that the floods affected 266,698 ha, of which 210,587 ha with diverse crops—such as maize, rice, beans and vegetables—were lost. This represents 4 per cent of the total area sown in the country. The Gaza province was the worst affected, with 30 per cent of its area lost.
With the second planting season due to start in April 2013, farmers urgently need seeds and agricultural tools to prevent major food insecurity. In response, CERF has provided a rapid response grant of US$709,038 to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). FAO will seek to assist 13,000 households in Gaza province with emergency agriculture kits composed of seeds and tools.
The allocation is expected to benefit 65,000 people.
CERF allocates more than $5 million to flood-affected people in Mozambique
4 February 2013: From 11 to 27 January 2013, heavy rains triggered floods in 24 districts in Mozambique. Among these, Chokwe and Guija in Gaza Province were the worst affected. The entire population of Chokwe was evacuated. Forty-eight people have died and more than 146,000 people are temporarily displaced.
The heavy rains have damaged houses, infrastructure and drainage systems. Crops have also been severely affected.
In the capital, Maputo, nine temporary accommodation centres have been established to shelter an estimated 5,492 people. In the rest of Mozambique, six accommodation centres have been set up to assist the high number of displaced people.
The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided a rapid response grant of US$5,133,300 to five UN agencies to provide immediate assistance to the flood-affected people.
Through an allocation of $1,212,310, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will help ensure minimum living conditions in the accommodation centres by providing sanitation facilities and proper hygiene practices.. UNICEF will also provide help and protection to affected children. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has received $108,990 to re-establish basic health services. Through an allocation of $500,591, the World Health Organization (WHO) will also restore basic health services to prevent disease outbreaks.
With an allocation of $1,002,288, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will provide shelter to people who live in untenable accommodation. The World Food Programme (WFP) has received $713,937 to provide food and communication systems.
The allocations are expected to benefit 150,000 people.