American Red Cross Mozambique Flood Relief Tops $200,000

WASHINGTON — The American Red Cross is providing $200,000 to support the emergency relief and recovery efforts in southern Africa. The money will be used to support the efforts of the Mozambique Red Cross Society in responding to the devastating floods that have affected the country over the past month. At least 40 people have lost their lives, an undetermined number of homes have been washed away and approximately 120,000 people have been displaced, with an estimated 285,000 more affected.

“There is no doubt that lives have been saved by the lessons learned from the 2001 floods and the early warning and response of the International Red Cross Movement,” said Tracy Reines, Senior Advisor for Relief and Africa Emergencies with the American Red Cross. “The American Red Cross is proud to provide the $200,000 for emergency response efforts in southern Africa, but with the full impact of Cyclone Favio unclear we are watching the developing situation closely and how it may exponentially increase the devastation to the region.”

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation), torrential rains have caused rivers to overflow - including the Zambezi - and increased pressure on dams, resulting in widespread flooding in central and southern parts of Mozambique. The most affected provinces are Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Tete where flooding destroyed thousands of houses, more than 100 schools, four health centers, several roads, bridges and 15,000 hectares of crops. So far, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the flooded Zambezi river valley, using helicopters and canoes.

The $200,000 donation by the American Red Cross is in response to the International Federation emergency appeal supporting the Mozambique Red Cross Society’s response to the devastating floods and the efforts of other national societies in the region.

“The operation aims at providing temporary shelter to 100,000 people in the four affected provinces, as well as distributing 5,000 tents, 15,000 tarpaulins, 40,000 blankets, 20,000 kitchen sets, bars of soap and 40,000 mosquito nets,” said Hanna Schmuck, the head of the International Federation’s field assessment and coordination team in Maputo. “The appeal funds will also finance the provision of safe water to affected people and the construction of 500 latrines.” Mozambique Red Cross volunteers will also conduct health education and social mobilization campaigns to prevent cholera and other water-borne diseases.