The World Food Programme (WFP) Friday announced serious concern about current flooding in the Zambezi Valley in central Mozambique.

Amir Abdulla, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa, said in a press release issued by the organization, "We are particularly concerned about the worsening situation in Mozambique which has yet to hit peak levels and is still being fed by rains in neighboring countries.”

"Our response in the region is hampered by a critical funding shortage and the need is now most acute in Mozambique," Abdulla said. "With the situation likely to worsen in the coming days, we are going to need the full support of the international community."

"We have been using pre-positioned stocks to respond to the floods across the region, but the severity of flooding in Mozambique will require urgent additional funding," he added.

The priority destination for WFP aid has been the district of Mutarara in Tete province, scene of severe flooding in Zambezi along the Shire River in January. The WFP has been distributing 300 tons of pre-positioned emergency food rations to 2,000 people gathered in centers in Mutarara.

Analysts point out, however, that local officials may have overstated the seriousness of the situation when they said that the rains have "filled the Cahora Bassa dam above capacity levels."

In fact, as the bulletins from the National Water Board (DNA) clearly state, Cahora Bassa Lake is at less than 70% capacity.

The WFP warns, however, that the current level of outflow from Cahora Bassa will push flooding in the Zambezi basin to levels similar to a major flood, which occurred in 2001.

The WFP plans to launch an appeal to the international community this week "to support the Mozambique government's efforts to contain the crisis."

That appeal is likely to request food aid, air support to rescue people who are stranded, and to deliver relief goods and telecommunications equipment to facilitate coordination of the humanitarian response.

Programme authorities estimate that 285,000 people "may need food assistance for the next few months, as many have had to flee the rising flood waters, leaving behind their meager possessions and food stocks."

WFP "already faces a critical shortfall in funding for all its operations in southern Africa,” say programme officials. They estimate “the efforts will require 105 million U.S. dollars through to the end of this year."

"Our response in the region is hampered by a critical funding shortage and the need is now most acute in Mozambique," Abdulla said. "With the situation likely to worsen in the coming days, we are going to need the full support of the international community."

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Keywords:: Africa UN flood Mozambique aid   

Harlan Douglas Weikle