(2004/C 70 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1228/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject:   Floods in Mozambique

According to media reports, since Mozambique was hit at the beginning of this month by Cyclone Japhet the centre of the country has been afflicted by flooding, heavy rain and gale-force winds.

The same sources state that several thousand people have been affected, notably by the overflowing of the river Save. There have been reports, following the flooding of transport links, of communities being effectively cut off and having to be airlifted food supplies under World Food Programme (WFP) auspices.

The humanitarian situation is critical, even more so since the communities affected had already been hit by severe drought-induced food shortages.

Can the Commission state:

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2003)

The Commission is aware that Mozambique has suffered severe adverse weather conditions in 2003, firstly when Cyclone Delfina caused torrential rains in northern and central Mozambique during the first week of January 2003, and secondly as a result of floods caused by Cyclone Japhet in central Mozambique in the first week of March 2003. Effects of the flooding have included serious disruption to transport, power, water and agricultural systems; damage to houses, schools and health centres; over 50 000 people affected or displaced by the floods and 75 deaths. Inhabitants of villages close to the River Save, which burst its banks on 11 March 2003, were especially vulnerable due to food shortages existing before the recent floods, and because this area was affected by flooding in both 2000 and 2001.

The Commission responded swiftly to assist the flood victims, by means of food security and water projects that it was already funding in the affected areas. These projects reoriented their activities rapidly in favour of those in need as a result of the floods. Items which have been supplied include food, cooking equipment, buckets, water treatment packages and plastic sheeting.

Moreover, staff responsible for the Community's multi-annual food security programme (EUR 44 million) are currently assessing the food security situation in central Mozambique, following a recent Call for Proposals (EUR 10 million) under the food security budget line.

Close co-ordination with other relief organisations, such as World Food Programme, the Red Cross and the Mozambique government's National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), are an essential feature of flood response. An important aspect of ongoing Community assistance is disaster preparedness implemented by the National Institute of Meteorology with Commission financial support. This is extremely useful to the Government in preparing for floods and similar events.

Concerning possible future actions, the Commission is monitoring the humanitarian situation in Mozambique closely, ready to take further action if appropriate.