Red Cross appeals for flood victims in Mozambique and Malawi
2 March 2001


The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appealed for 7.5 million Swiss francs to support emergency relief operations for 50,000 people in Mozambique and Malawi, whose livelihoods are threatened by this week's rising flood waters.

Some 325,000 Mozambicans living along the banks of the Zambezi river are at risk after torrential rains, winds and tropical storms resulted in floods. Some 253,000 people are affected and 23,600 are displaced from their homes, according to early estimates. The Mozambique Red Cross and the Federation have dispatched 4,000 family kits to the flooded areas. Each family kit contains one tent, two blankets, mosquito nets, a kitchen set, used clothes and hygiene articles.

"These goods, part of a disaster preparedness stock set up last October, enabled the Red Cross to react instantly to the crisis and ease the suffering of the affected population," says Mark Wilson, the Federation's Head of Delegation in Maputo. "However, this is not sufficient to provide an overall solution to the scale of the present disaster."

For Mozambique, this appeal seeks 5 million Swiss francs to provide temporary shelter and basic household supplies for 30,000 people or 6,000 of the worst-hit households. Water, sanitation and health activities are also planned in the flood-affected provinces of Sofala, Zambezia and Tete. A year ago, devastating floods in central and southern Mozambique killed more than 700 people, displaced 544,000 more and caused billions of dollars of damage.

In neighbouring Malawi, nine people have lost their lives while 60,000 people from 117 villages are reported to have been made homeless. In total, 194,000 people from the Mangochi region, at the southern tip of Lake Malawi, have been affected by the floods. Thirteen of the country's 27 districts have been declared disaster areas. The Malawi Red Cross and the International Federation have sent emergency relief items to the flood-affected region, which are being distributed to families. This includes more than 200 tents, 3,200 blankets, 17,300 metres of plastic sheeting, 300 tarpaulins, 836 cooking pots and 350 kitchen sets, 800 jerry cans, 189 hoes and 25,000 water purification tablets.

For Malawi, this appeal seeks 2.5 million Swiss francs to provide relief support to 20,000 victims in the worst-affected Lower Shire area. As well as shelter and basic household items, the Red Cross is providing drinking water, basic health care and sanitation facilities. A field assessment.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Geneva: Solveig Olafsdottir, information officer, Tel.: +41 22 730 4296/ + 41 79 416 3881
Nairobi: Caroline Hurford, regional information delegate, Tel: +254 2 713424
Beira: Christopher Black, information officer, Tel: +41 79 217 3345

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.