World Vision intensifies disaster response efforts in Mozambique
World Vision is calling for urgent aid assistance for tens of thousands of people affected by the recent floods that hit Zambezia Province in the central region of Mozambique.
World Vision estimates that the response requires £2.6 million to assist at least 50,000 people in the next 12 months. Interventions will prioritise food distribution, provision of shelter, water and sanitation and ensuring child protection.
“The situation I have seen in Mocuba is critical. There are 52,000 people living in the temporary accommodation centres set up by the government. About 30,000 of the people in the centres are children. These people lack food, shelter and water. The situation is heartbreaking,” said Graham Strong, World Vision Mozambique National Director.
World Vision has also been assisting in search and rescue operations and ensuring the safe passage of people and goods, through the deployment of both personnel and equipment, including a boat and vehicles.
Authorities say that approximately 150, 000 people have been affected in the disaster with houses, schools, health facilities, roads and crop fields destroyed.
The government of Mozambique has declared an ‘Institutional Red Alert’ and saving lives is top priority.
Strong recently visited the affected areas and led the World Vision Mozambique team to distribute hand over water tanks and opened communal latrines in the temporary accommodation centres.
Needs amongst those in the camps are pressing, amid concerns that water-borne diseases might easily break out with tragic consequences. In order to minimise such risk World Vision has provided water tanks and opened communal latrines in some of the busiest camps.
“Some of the families lost children’s birth certificates. Without that piece of paper, children cannot go back to school”, Strong explained. “World Vision is going to work with government and other organisations to work out ways of ensuring that children get new birth certificates and enjoy the right to education,” he added.
World Vision plans to intensify response efforts in Zambezia and Mocuba by providing family kits comprising tarpaulins, mosquito nets and hygiene items such as soap, jerry cans and blankets.
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