Mozambique (Hansard, 3 April 2001)

§ Clare Short

The situation in Mozambique is stabilising and is showing some signs of improvement but remains serious. The continued effective management of the dam discharge rates has helped to alleviate the effects of the seasonal rains on the lower Zambezi. The wet season is now drawing to a close reducing the threat of further flooding.

Government of Mozambique reports continue to describe some 494,500 people in the Zambezi Valley as being affected by the current flooding. The Government of Mozambique estimate that some 204,130 are now accommodated in 77 temporary accommodation centres in the four flood affected provinces of Sofala, Tete, Manica, and Zambezia. As floodwater in the eastern part 129W of Zambezia Province recedes, some of the displaced population are leaving the temporary accommodation centres and returning to their homes.

Following the immediate relief operation in response to last year's catastrophic floods in Mozambique, my Department has remained engaged in rehabilitation as well as in developing new measures, via the United Nations system, to strengthen both UN and Government of Mozambique contingency arrangements for future disasters. Over the past few months DFID, FCO, MOD, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the UK Fire Service have been working together to prepare contingency plans for different emergency scenarios. In addition we have continued to work closely with the Government of Mozambique's National Directorate of Water to set up early warning flood systems with the UK Met Office.

Following the onset of the current floods, we switched gear to immediate response operations deliberately aimed at 'preventative' rescue and relief, i.e. extricating people before the worst hits them and there is substantial loss of life and suffering. In addition to contributing £250,000 to the Red Cross and £160,000 to Food for the Hungary's appeal for Mozambique, we funded two Puma helicopters to move people from the riskiest areas and transport urgent relief supplies; provided three logisticians to the World Food Programme to assist in its operational response; and provided a humanitarian specialist in Beira to reinforce DFID presence on the ground and conduct field assessments.