Southern Mozambique: MSF provides emergency aid for flood victims

Heavy rains and flooding in the southern part of Mozambique have caused widespread displacement and destruction. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided emergency assistance to people seeking shelter in Boane district, near the capital Maputo.

According to the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), the rain and ensuing flooding have affected more than 39 000 people, displaced over 14 000 and caused the death of 9 people as of 15 February.  In addition, 15 health centres and an equal number of schools have been damaged by the high water levels.

People who have been forced to leave their homes have gathered in different temporary sites where they live in makeshift conditions. An MSF team consisting of logistical and medical staff assessed the most urgent needs of the people seeking shelter in two schools in Boane district and installed a 40m2 tent to house mothers and children.

Distribution of hygiene kits and training of teams

MSF joined efforts with the Mozambican Red Cross to distribute hygiene kits consisting of soap, toothbrush and paste, washing powder, water purifier tablets and other essential relief items for 1 250 displaced persons sheltering in Boane and Mabaja primary schools. MSF is preparing to provide water and sanitation training for National Red Cross volunteers to ensure basic hygiene measures are in place to prevent diarrheal diseases in the reallocation’s sites.

Medical and awareness actions to prevent epidemics

Local health services are providing medical assistance to the displaced and people affected by floods affected, and to support them, MSF has installed a tent where medical teams carry out consultations.

MSF Head of Mission in Mozambique, Stephane Foulon, says “the biggest concern now is the possibility of an outbreak of diarrheal diseases, given the poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. We will follow the situation closely and are supporting actions to prevent such an outbreak.”

The rains are forecasted to intensify during the next ten days and there is a risk of overflooding in the nearby dam Pequenos Libombos. People cannot return home until the risk is over and the intense rains have stopped.