UNITED NATIONS Mozambique Humanitarian Country Team SITUATION REPORT Nº 11 – MOZAMBIQUE – 10 March 2008 SPECIAL EDITION ON CYCLONE “JOKWE” HIGHLIGHTS • The Moz ambique Government has declared a Red Alert as tropical cyclone “Jokwe” hit Nampula province in northern Mozambique leaving a trail of destruction with at least 7 people killed, several injured and thousands left without shelter. • The Instituto Nacional de Gestão de Calamidades (INGC - the national disaster management authority), UN Agencies and other humanitarian partners are already in the Cyclone affected areas conducting a rapid needs assessment and providing humanitarian assistance to affected populations. The information contained in this report has been gathered by the Office of Resident Coordinator on behalf of the Mozambican Humanitarian Country Team from the Clusters and other sources including the Government of Mozambique. Northern Nampula province is the worst-hit, including Situation Overview the historic Mozambique Island, the first capital of Mozambique. The INGC fear that the situation in the central areas On March 9, 2008, tropical cyclone “Jokwe” hit already hit by flooding could worsen, as the storm northern and central Mozambique, killing at least 7 moves south. people, and leaving a trail of destruction in its path. Thousands of homes have been partially or totally Cyclone “Jokwe” is moving in a south-westerly destroyed, trees uprooted and power line infrastructure direction toward the inland districts of Nampula, and is severely damaged leaving several towns and villages expected to hit the central province of Zambézia, without electricity. bringing with it moderate rain. It is expected to hold this direction for at least another two to three days. CURRENT STATUS (as of March 10, 2008) Thereafter, it is possible that an eastward turn might take place affecting southwestern Madagascar. The storm is still currently active and is moving along the Mozambique Channel PRELIMINARY NUMBERS • Current position: 20.30 South et 39.60 East Total of people who died due to the cyclone: 7 • Basin: SWIndian Mongicual district– 4 deaths • Strength: Cyclone with Saffir Simpson Angoche district – 1 death category 2 Moma district – 1 death • Maximum sustained wind speed: 70 Kt, 129 Monapo district – 1 death km/h, 36 m/s Total of people injured as a consequence of the Cyclone “Jokwe” lashed coastal areas of central and cyclone: 6 northern Mozambique with winds of up to 200km/h: Ilha de Moçambique district - 3 people injured these winds are currently at 130km/h. Mossuril district - 1 people injured Mogincual district - 2 people injured The Government of Mozambique declared a Red Alert, the highest level, in the provinces of Nampula, Table 1. Damage to houses Zambézia and Sofala on the coastal areas of districts District Partially Totally of Maganja da Costa, Pebane, Moma, Angoche, destroyed destroyed Mogovolas, Mogincual, Mossuril and Nacala, where Mossuril 175 429 medium rainfall has been registered with winds of 50 to 100 km/h. A Yellow Alert has been declared for the Angoche 617 6,809 central provinces, specifically in the districts of Nacala Porto 70 104 Inhassunge and Chinde, Marromeu, Chiringoma and Dondo, amid fears the storm will cause more damage. Moma 96 117 Mongicual 0 1,599 Page 1 of 2 Ilha de Moçambique 131 0 Total 1,089 9,058 Schools destroyed: 12 Last month Cyclone “Ivan” battered parts of Madagascar, off the coast from Mozambique, but lost intensity before it reached the mainland. Humanitarian Response The INGC is assessing the extent of the damage caused by the passage of the cyclone. As of March 10 2008, disaster-relief teams have been flown to the storm-hit areas to assist provincial authorities in the assessment of the damage. The INGC is also sending plastic sheeting and food aid to the affected populations. Electricity supply has been re-established to the Ilha de Moçambique. WFP and UNICEF have mobilised staff to the areas affected, including water and sanitation, education, social policy specialists as well as a monitoring and evaluation officer. UNICEF is sending plastic sheeting materials, to cover the houses that lost roof, and water purification products. IOM and UN-HABITAT have sent staff to join the INGC in the rapid assessment of areas hit by the cyclone: IOM will be looking specifically at shelter and non-food items. Once the rapid assessment have taken place it will be possible to establish more clearly the extent of the damage as well as the needs for an adequate response. For more information, please contact: • Ndolamb Ngokwey , UN Resident Coordinator, Tel: +258 21 485158/59, [email protected] • Christian Cricboom, Database Manager , Tel: + 258 842065063, [email protected] • Angelina Tivane , UN Emergency Coordinator Support Officer, RCO, Tel: +258 82 302 0860, [email protected] Page 2 of 2 .