Flood fears mount in Africa

2008-01-08 21:37

Emmanuel Camillo

Maputo - Relief agencies have sounded the alert that torrential rains and flooding in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are threatening tens of thousands of people, and that the worst is still to come.

The British charity Save The Children said on Tuesday that up to 250 000 people, half of them children, could be affected in Mozambique as rapidly rising rivers forced them to seek safety on higher ground.

Tete, a town of 153 000 inhabitants in northwestern Mozambique, was completely flooded on Tuesday following the surge of water from the Cahora Bassa dam into the Zambezi river. "Offices, homes, shops and roads are under water," state radio reported.

Mozambican authorities, who have become skilled in disaster management, had evacuated most inhabitants from the low-lying town centre, and there were no immediate reports of casualties. Four people have died so far since the rains started in mid-December.

Major repercussions

But aid organisations warned that the flooding could have major repercussions for the impoverished nation, which is still recovering from floods and a cyclone that hit in February.

The UN Children's Fund appealed for US$2.4m for emergency supplies.

Mozambique's government last week declared its highest level of alert, saying the Zambezi, the Pungue, the Buzi and the Save rivers all were above critical levels.

The Mozambique News Agency said shelters in some regions could only be reached by boat.

Seasonal flooding is not unusual in southern Africa. But the UN said it was concerned the rains have been heavier and come earlier than the normal February peak this year.

In addition to flooding, there are fears of an increased risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and of malaria.

John Holmes, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said on Monday that humanitarian needs would increase in the weeks ahead.

Transport links between port cities in Mozambique and the landlocked neighbouring countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, have been badly hit.

Contingency plan

In Zambia, the government launched a multimillion-dollar contingency plan to deal with the effects of floods, and has placed 34 of 72 districts on red alert.

Authorities warned the situation might become more acute if rain continues to fall in Zimbabwe - where rains are reported to be the heaviest since colonial era records a century ago.

In Zimbabwe, at least 27 people have died, and health authorities reported treating more than 400 cases of severe diarrhoea blamed on collapsing sanitation worsened by torrential rain in Harare's impoverished eastern townships.

The International Organisation for Migration said on Tuesday it was assessing the needs of thousands of homeless families throughout the country, and trying to distribute shelter and sanitation supplies and mosquito nets.

World Vision said more than 50 000 people had been affected in its programmes in Zimbabwe.

- AP