Southern Africa • Floods Regional Update # 1 10 March 2010 This Report Was Issued by the Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (ROSEA)
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Southern Africa • Floods Regional Update # 1 10 March 2010 This report was issued by the Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (ROSEA). It covers the period from 01 February to 9 March 2010. The next report will be issued within the next two weeks I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES • Normal to above normal rains in northern Zambia and northern Mozambique are causing river levels to rise, forcing authorities to discharge water from Kariba dam in Zimbabwe and Cahora Bassa dam in Mozambique. This, in addition to the ongoing rainfall is causing localized flooding in some areas. • The Government of Mozambique issued a Red Alert on 9 March, in response to the localized flooding in parts of the country. To date, 13,000 displaced people have been relocated to safe areas. • In Zambia, an estimated 800 families have been affected by flooding of which 150 have been relocated to temporary shelter setup by the Government. • An estimated 910 cholera cases and 19 cholera related deaths have been reported in Zambia. II. Regional Situation Overview Consistent with the SADC Outlook for the first quarter of the year, there has been normal to above normal rainfall across the northern half of southern Africa. Northern Zambia and northern Mozambique have particularly received above normal rains. In turn, the Kariba dam, in Zimbabwe, is 73% full. This prompted the opening of one flood gate on the 9th of March 2010. Eastern and Northern Zimbabwe received heavy rains in the past two weeks leading to flash floods in some areas and to the rise, above alert levels, of the Pungwe River downstream in Mozambique. Angola experienced localized flooding in Cunene, which the Government has adequately responded to. Namibia’s Kavango River has risen significantly over the last few days to levels above the average but lower that what it was this time last year. The situation is being closely monitored by the National Hydrological Services and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). Although river levels are at present higher or close to levels that precipitated significant flooding in previous years, current dam levels are relatively low, mitigating flooding downstream. Additionally, some surrounding tributaries have not received significant inflows from heavy rains this season. Given the overall prevailing conditions, and the near end of the rainy season, there is a low probability of further flooding that might cause significant humanitarian impact. However close monitoring is required. Zambezi Water Levels Water levels in the upper and middle Zambezi basin running through Zambia are rising fast as a result of heavy rainfall that has been received so far. On 26 February, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) confirmed the arrival of a high flood in the Zambezi River at Chavuma near the Angola-Zambia border, where the river level has since reached 9.09m as of 05 March compared to the highest level readings of 9.04m in 2007, 7.53m in 2008, and 9.71m in 2009 . The flow time of floods from Chavuma to Lukulu is a few days and then approximately two more weeks to Katima Mulilo on the Namibia-Zambia border, meaning that water levels above 7m are expected at Katima Mulilo by mid-March, which is still not as high as last year, when river levels reached 7.85m. The Zambezi River at Katima Mulillo is rising steadily. As of 08 March, the river level stood at 5.99m, up 10cm since the previous day. This is above normal levels for this time of the year (3.78m), and higher than last year (5.66m). However, the magnitude of flood that will ultimately occur at Katima Mulilo depends on rains and flow conditions in the intermediate areas. The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), ZESCO (Zambia’s hydropower company) and the Zambia Department of Water Affairs (DWA) are monitoring the rise in water levels through their usual gauging stations along the The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Zambezi River. The Zambia Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) is also monitoring the situation closely. The DMMU has made it clear that as soon as the situation worsens, it will be fully involved in sensitizing people in the lower Zambezi basin to relocate. In Zimbabwe, the Zambezi River water levels have been increasing since the start of the rainy season. All the inflows in the river are captured by Kariba Dam which is now 73% full having gained 3.4% of its volume since the 1st of March. The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) issued warnings to the general public prior to its opening of one flood gate on 9 March. In Mozambique, Cahora Bassa dam, which is downstream of Kariba dam was 72.5 percent full on 6 March, up from 71.8 percent the previous day. Since 5 March the discharge of the Cahora Bassa has been increased, and this increase will be maintained until 15 March. While the opening of one Kariba dam flood gate is not a significant event in itself, any additional flow from the dam may force another increase in discharge from the Cahora Bassa, increasing the possibility of flooding in Mozambique and possible backflow into the Shire River in Malawi. According to the Mozambique National Meteorological Institute (INAM) moderate to heavy rainfalls are expected over the period 6-15 March in Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces. Moderate to heavy rains are expected in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe over the same period. Mozambique The Government of Mozambique declared a Red Alert on 9 March 2010 following a meeting of the Council of Ministers in light of the current localized flooding in parts of the country. The Red Alert has been called as a preparedness measure, and to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall in Mozambique and neighbouring countries, and related outflows from several dams and rivers in the sub-region. During the past seven days, heavy rains (between 50 and 100 mm) were reported in the Northern and Central regions of the country, particularly in Tete, Manica, Sofala, Zambezia, Nampula and Inhambane provinces. Following issuance of the Red Alert, the Central Emergency Operations Centre (CENOE) held a meeting on 9 March 2010 with focal points from various line ministries and other relevant government institutions and members of the Humanitarian Country Team (cluster leads) to provide an overview of the situation, preparedness and prepositioning measures and ongoing response in areas affected by the localized flooding. Based on preliminary figures provided by the National Emergency Operations Centre (CENOE) on 9 March, 13,000 people have been affected by the initial inundation in Zumbo, Tete, Chemba, Tambara, Mutarara, Caia, Mopeia, Morrumbaia, Marromeu and Chinde. They have been resettled in secure areas on higher ground. The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) estimates that 130,000 people currently live in risk zones and may be potentially affected should water levels continue to rise. An additional 45 families are currently accommodated in the cultural centre of Buzi. An assessment of the localized needs is ongoing by provincial authorities, and provides the basis for support to families that require transport to safer areas, shelter and initial support. Provincial authorities are being supported by local members of the Mozambican Red Cross. To-date, 74 tents have been set up for families in need of time-bound shelter and related support According to the latest information, Chiramba village (Chemba district) is currently only accessible by boat due to the inaccessibility of the road. Around 1,300 families (6,500 people) may be in need of humanitarian assistance in this area, which is being assessed by partners. The Government of Mozambique, in coordination with partners, is closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas to ensure that needs are identified and immediately addressed. The situation is under control and a drop in rainfall is expected in the coming days unless the tropical storm off the coast of Madagascar results in additional rain in Mozambique. Nevertheless, on account of the impact of internal and external tributaries, there is a continued need to monitor water levels and the potential impact of continued localized flooding on communities living adjacent to riverine areas. The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. 2 Under the framework of the IASC Cluster Approach, humanitarian cluster members are monitoring the developments and providing support to the localized response. Teams have been deployed to the affected areas to support the Government in carrying out rapid assessments in districts that are increasingly becoming affected. Coordination meetings have been scheduled by various clusters in the coming days to ensure the continued ability of partners to assess priority requirements of the Government, and provide timely support to areas in need Emergency supplies including WASH, Health and Education materials have been pre-prositioned in strategic regional locations by HCT members and are being deployed to affected areas based on the results of the initial assessments. Food supplies are being delivered to partners in flood affected areas to address the impact of the ongoing drought as well as sudden-onset flood. Zambia Heavy rains in Zambia have seen the buildup of water levels along the Zambezi River. The Zambia Meteorological Department is predicting that there will be floods along the Zambezi River, but the magnitude of these floods is not yet known. So far, about 150 families affected by the floods in Lusaka have been relocated to the Independence Stadium in northern Lusaka, where the Government has set up temporary shelter.