Mozambique Food Security Update, February 2007
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MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update February 2007 Many households in southern and central Mozambique are now, or are about to become, food insecure. In the south, drought conditions over the past several months have caused crop failure in inland Gaza and Inhambane and parts of Maputo provinces. The poorest households are quickly depleting their reserves from the 2005/06 harvest, and will soon be forced to reduce consumption, rely on market purchases earlier than normal and employ negative coping strategies such as selling productive assets. Urgent provision of short‐cycle variety seeds is needed for the second season in March/April. If the upcoming second season is poor as well, or if households do not receive the needed inputs, many households may be forced to rely on negative coping strategies throughout much of 2007. Cyclone Favio, a category 4 cyclone, hit Mozambique in Vilankulos District in Inhambane Province on February 22, then moved northwest through northern Inhambane, southern Sofala and Manica provinces. The cyclone has caused at least ten deaths and destroyed homes and infrastructure, including tourist facilities in Vilankulos. Most households affected by the cyclone lost food reserves, crops and fruit trees, and are likely to face acute food shortages in the coming weeks. Food, water and shelter are urgently needed. Despite the damage, Cyclone Favio brought welcome rainfall to many areas that had experienced drought conditions earlier in the season. Second‐season planting is possible, but seeds are urgently needed, as many households are spending their already meager resources to repair homes or meet their food needs. In central Mozambique, households affected by floods along the Zambezi are experiencing temporary food insecurity. 163,000 people have already been displaced, and 285,000 people are at risk of being affected by the flooding. Relief operations are underway, but additional funding and response capacity are needed, particularly in water supply and sanitation assistance. Food prices are currently stable and below the five‐year average. However, as food reserves from the 2005/06 harvest are depleted in areas where food access is problematic due to crop failure or restricted market access, price spikes are possible, which would further limit household food access. Seasonal Timeline FEWS NET Mozambique FEWS NET Washington Av. das FPLM 2698, Maputo 1717 H St NW FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity. The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Tel: 258.21.461872 Washington DC 20006 Agency for International Development or the United States Government. [email protected] [email protected] www.fews.net/mozambique MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update February 2007 Cyclone Favio hits Mozambique Cyclone Favio made landfall in Vilankulos District in northern Inhambane Province on February 22, 2007. It followed a northwesterly course, affecting northeast Inhambane, southern Sofala and central Manica provinces before crossing into Zimbabwe as a tropical depression (Figure 1). At landfall, Favio was a category 4 tropical cyclone, similar to Cyclone Japhet in 2003 and Eline in 2000, which impacted many of the same areas and caused widespread destruction and flooding. Favio caused greater levels of destruction than the previous Figure 1. Tropical Cyclone Favio trajectory and severely/moderately affected districts cyclones, as the strongest winds passed over the town of Vilankulos and the storm covered more districts due to its longitudinal orientation. Vilankulos felt the maximum impact of the cyclone, which knocked down buildings, uprooted trees and killed people. The cyclone weakened as it passed over land, becoming a tropical depression over Inhassoro, Govuro, Machanga, Buzi and Chibabava districts. Other districts, including Mabote, Machaze, Mossurize Sussundenga, Dondo, Nhamatanda, Gondola, Chimoio and Manica, were also affected by heavy rains and winds of approximately 60 km/h. Multi‐sectoral assessment missions are underway to develop a complete understanding of damage caused by the cyclone. Preliminary findings include: • Human deaths and injuries: So far, at least ten people have died, due mainly to electrocution and the collapse of buildings and trees. Numerous injuries from flying debris have also occurred. • Number of affected people: In Inhambane province, an estimated 133,670 people have had their houses, crops or means of livelihood destroyed in 4 districts: Vilankulos (73,000), Inhassoro (43,170), Govuro (7,500) and Massinga (10,000). In Manica province, 2,370 families in Gondola and 890 families in Sussundenga have been affected. The number of affected people in Sofala province is not yet available. Source: FEWS NET • Housing: Most houses made of mud or reed affected by Favio have been destroyed, including up to 80 percent of such houses in Vilankulos and 60 percent in Govuro, displacing several thousand people. Some concrete structures have been severely damaged, with sea‐facing walls blown down, and the roofs of most brick and concrete structures blew off. In Bazaruto, an island next to Vilankulos, all mud or reed homes were significantly damaged, as were many lodges. Damage to housing and other infrastructure also occurred in Chimoio, Gondola, Sussundenga, Manica, Machanga, Buzi, Dondo and Chibabava. • Public facilities: The roofs of public buildings such as schools, hospitals and government institutions were blown off. Many commercial facilities were totally or partially destroyed, and many are without roofs, exposing the goods and merchandise to rain. In Vilankulos alone 69 schools were totally or partially destroyed, including 107 classrooms, 12 gymnasiums, and 40 residences for teachers. Food warehouses were also destroyed; 50 tons of maize was exposed to rains in Machanga district after a WFP warehouse was blown away by strong winds. In Vilankulos, the new municipal market collapsed, and the district prison was destroyed and all prisoners escaped. Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2 MOZAMBIQUE Food Security Update February 2007 • Other facilities: Vilankulos’ two petrol stations were damaged and are not operational. The tourist facilities of Vilankulos – a popular tourist destination – were destroyed, and the electricity grid and water distribution system were severely damaged. • Communication and access roads: Cell phone, radio and TV antennas were totally or partially damaged, affecting communication. Mobile phone batteries have run out, further restricting communication. Access roads were blocked by fallen trees and pylons, but clearing efforts began soon after the cyclone ended. Transport is possible, but difficult. Cyclone Favio has also affected local food security, and immediate support is necessary. Households in the areas affected by the cyclone are likely to face acute food shortages within the next two weeks from the destruction of food crops and stocks and temporary market malfunction. Most households lost assets including food reserves, crops that were near maturation and fruit trees that normally contribute to dietary diversity and income. In the short term, households are attempting to salvage food from the destroyed plants, but this temporary food source will run out soon and households will rely on external help. According to the report recently released by the multi‐agency assessment mission, there is an immediate need to establish a food assistance program for at least four months until the next harvest is possible. Urgent assistance is also needed in the provision of water and shelter. A more detailed assessment is needed to determine more specific needs and the recovery efforts required for different livelihood groups. There is also an urgent need for the distribution of seeds. Despite the huge damage caused to crops and infrastructure, the cyclone brought relief in terms of water supply and improved soil moisture in many areas that had received minimal rainfall for the main part of the previous rainy season. A second cropping season is now possible. However, in many places households are devoting their resources to pay for housing repair or purchase food, and may not have enough resources to replant without assistance. There is an immediate need for seed provision, including maize, beans and vegetable seeds, to support the second‐season planting. Priority areas of support for recovery from the cyclone damage are: • Provision of shelter and food to the affected population • Immediate repair of hospitals, water and energy systems and the supply of power generators • Provision of construction materials, including logistical support for damage control and reconstruction • Seed supply for second‐season planting • Further assessment to ascertain the total extent of damage Buzi basin at alarming level, Zambezi remains stationary Figure 2. Rainfall estimate, Feb 20 to 26, 2007, in mm Following Favio, heavy rain fell in parts of Sofala, Manica, Gaza and Inhambane provinces (Figure 2), causing flooding along the Buzi River basin, potentially increasing flooding along the Zambezi River and leading to displacement. Despite the increase in short‐term food insecurity, a good flood‐recession harvest is possible in mid‐2007, but affected households require seeds and tools to plant. Heavy rains occurred in central provinces of Sofala and Manica, especially in the Buzi basin. According to the National Directorate of Water (DNA), from February 22 to 24 a total of 489.0 and 444.9 millimeters of rainfall were recorded respectively at the Lucite