Southern Africa • Floods and Cyclones Situation Update# 3 05 April 2012

This update is issued by the OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA). It covers the period of 01 March to 04 April 2012. The timing of the next report will depend on changes in flood conditions. I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES • No reports of new flooding have been received in the past three weeks, and no new cyclones have formed over the south-west Indian Ocean. • Flood conditions persist in northern Namibia. • Between April and June, normal to below normal rainfall is forecasted for most of the region. • Both Mozambique and Madagascar are entering the early recovery phase of the response, for which funding is being mobilized.

II. Regional Rainfall Situation Overview

No reports of new flooding have been received in the past three weeks, and no new cyclones have formed over the south-west Indian Ocean. According to the latest SADC Climate Service Centre forecast, from April to June 2012 the bulk of continental SADC has a greater likelihood of normal to below-normal rainfall, indicating that the rainfall season is drawing to a close. However, flooding across the region is still a possibility, particularly in northern Namibia, and responders are requested to remain vigilant. It is important to note that last year a state of emergency for the flooding in northern Namibia was only declared on 29 March, a point which highlights the fact that we are still within the flood season.

According to the shorter term forecast, between 4 and 20 April little to no rainfall is expected over the western half of the region, with the exception of north-central Angola, while some rain is expected over the eastern half, particularly south-eastern Madagascar. At this stage, the short-term rainfall forecast holds little cause for concern, and may indeed improve flood conditions in northern Namibia.

III. Malawi

In Malawi, reports of small to medium scale flooding from across the country continue to be received. As at 12 March, an estimated total of 18,484 households (92,420 people) have been affected to some extent by storms and floods, to which the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) is responding. Regarding the large scale flooding in the southern district of Nsanje in late January, the situation has normalized. The majority of those displaced have returned to their homes. However, around 4,328 people are still displaced in ad hoc shelter sites. Various partners are implementing relief and early recovery activities in the district, and plans are underway for the Government to assist some of those still displaced to relocate to higher ground.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate 1 effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. www.ochaonline.un.org

OCHA Situation Update

IV. Madagascar

Seven weeks after tropical cyclone Giovanna struck the eastern regions and five weeks after heavy rains caused large scale flooding in the south-eastern regions, the official cumulative death toll stands at 112, with 299 people injured, according to the National Bureau for Disaster and Risk Management (BNGRC). All displaced have returned to their homes, and water levels have normalized in all the affected districts. Roads are open, although several sections of road have been damaged and requires repair. Rice fields and other crops in many areas of the south-east and east have been completely flooded, and crop losses are expected to be significant. An estimated 135,000 people are considered as food insecure over the short and medium term due to the combined impacts of floods and cyclones this season. Furthermore, a resurgence of malaria cases is being reported in many health districts, both in the south-eastern and eastern regions.

The humanitarian response is ongoing and entering the early recovery phase. The Resident Coordinator’s Office has ceased issuing situation reports, barring new floods. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) will not be requesting additional financial assistance for emergency response at this stage, although financial assistance is being sought with donors bilaterally to fund early recovery and rehabilitation efforts. If another flood or cyclone event were to impact Madagascar this rainfall season, which lasts until the end of April, current pre-positioned relief stocks will be insufficient (see table below). Therefore, it is crucial to replenish pre-positioned relief stocks in order to provide timely and adequate humanitarian responses.

Madagascar: Pre-positioned stocks as at 20 March 2012 Sector Items/foods available Potential coverage Education 175 tents 175 classrooms Food security and 24,5 mt seeds 5,444 families livelihoods 429 mt foods 9,783 families (emergency stocks) Shelter 389 family tents 1,572 families 1,420 plastic sheeting 1,938 families Health 1,000 DMU kits 1,000 women 9 tents hospital Protection 14 recreation kits 2,800 children Wash 7 water treatment unit 17,000 families water purification 72,224 families Source: Madagascar RCO and UNCT

V. Mozambique

With no new cases of flooding reported in weeks, the combined impact of tropical storms Dando, Funso and Irina are as follow: 44 deaths, with 108,048 people (25,880 households) affected. An estimated 28,000 homes were destroyed, damaged or flooded, 735 classrooms and 31 health units damaged and 140,538 ha of crops affected, of which 41,979 ha were totally lost. Fortunately, the cholera outbreak that was reported in Mozambique has been brought under control.

Given current climatic and hydrological conditions, and following a Coordinating Council for Disaster Management (CCGC) decision, the Disaster Management Technical Committee (CTGC) downgraded the alert level from orange to green on 30 March 2012. The focus has now shifted to early recovery activities. Based on the results of the recent in-depth assessment, and taking into account the fact that the capacity of clusters is currently overstretched, the HCT decided on 28 March 2012 to mobilize resources to reinforce clusters capacity as well as to support early recovery activities. This mobilization will take place through bilateral discussions with in-country donors

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate 2 effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. www.ochaonline.un.org

OCHA Situation Update

VI. Namibia

Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) readings now clearly indicate the development of a flood in the headwaters of the Zambezi River, with flow levels at Chavuma on the Angola/Zambia border having risen 1.5 m in the last ten days. This means that a further rise in water levels downstream at Katima Mulilo could also be expected in the next two weeks. The size of the flood will depend on rains in the catchment over this period, but the expected range for the peak is between 6.00 and 6.50 m. For comparison, the maximum levels were 7.85 m in 2009, 6.37 m in 2010 and 6.89 m in 2011. Responders are requested to prepare accordingly.

Water levels in the Kavango River are falling at Rundu in northern Namibia, after it peaked at 8.10 m on 30 March 2012. For comparison, peaks in previous years were 8.65 m in 2009; 8.69 in 2010 and 8.38 m in 2011. No reports of flooding have been received from the region or from downstream Botswana.

Water levels in the Kunene River recently peaked at Ruacana in northern Namibia. Authorities recently conducted an aerial assessment of Kunene Province in Angola, which borders Namibia. The assessment confirmed that not much water was coming down through the Cuvelai Oshanas that straddle the Angola- Namibia border, and that there is also no overflow from the high water levels in the Kunene River between Xangongo and Calueque in Angola. The Cuvelai Oshanas experienced large scale flooding in 2009 and 2011.

VII. Contact

Francis Battal Officer in Charge, OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa +27 11 517 1624; [email protected]; Cell Phone +27 (0) 82 904 6067

Hein Zeelie Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa +27 11 517 1665; [email protected]; Cell Phone +27 (0)82 908 1441

To be added or deleted from this SitRep mailing list, please email [email protected] or visit ochaonline.un.org/rosea.

Sources: Relevant national disaster management authorities, relevant UN Resident Coordinator’s Offices, Namibia Hydrological Services, ZRA Zambia. NASA, NOAA, Tropical Storm Risk, SADC Climate Service Centre, Meteo France. Note: Household size estimated at five persons, except for Angola, where it is estimated at 6.8 persons, and South Africa, where it is estimated at 3.69 persons.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate 3 Mogadishu

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Oran ge Maseru Vanderkloof Dam LESOTHO Orange Legend Gariep Dam Main Cities In South Africa, Tropical Storm Dando in January 2012 caused heavy rains in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga that resulted in the flooding of many areas. Main Rivers Atlantic SOUTH AFRICA Indian Dams and Lakes Ocean Ocean Map ID:ROSEA195v3_Southern Africa Flood Update International Boundaries Creation Date: 4 April 2012 Flood or Cyclone Data Sources: Affected Areas Flood Information: Humanitarian Partners on the ground Mapping Data: HYCOS, GIST, ESRI, UN OCHA, ReliefWeb, TSR Tropical Storm Irina Path

Disclaimer: Cyclone Giovanna Path The designations employed and the presentation of material on this Please note that flood areas are mapped at district level, except for South Africa, map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the Cyclone Funso Path part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal Namibia and Mozambique, where some data was provided at regional level only. 0 100 200 status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or Tropical Storm Dando Path concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. km 1:23,000,000 *Average household size is estimated at 5 people.