2000 Mozambique flood

Template:Short description Template:Infobox weather eventTemplate:Infobox weather event/HistoryTemplate:Infobox weather event/EffectsTemplate:Infobox weather event/Footer The 2000 Mozambique flood was a natural disaster that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Leon-Eline that lasted for four weeks and made many homeless. Approximately 800 people died, 1400 km² of arable land was affected and 20,000 head of cattle and food were lost. It was the worst flood in Mozambique in 50 years.<ref>Floods take a serious economic toll Template:Webarchive, Africa Recovery, 14(3):13</ref>

Meteorological history

In October and November 1999, heavy rainfall affected Mozambique, followed by a period of heavy rainfall in January 2000.<ref name="great">Template:Cite book</ref> By the end of January 2000, the rains caused the Incomati, the Umbeluzi, and the Limpopo rivers to exceed their banks, inundating portions of the capital Maputo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Chókwè, the Limpopo River reached a level of Template:Convert on January 24, twice its normal level.<ref name="pana124">Template:Cite news</ref> Some areas received a year's worth of rainfall in two weeks.<ref name="dr218"/> The resultant floods were considered the worst to affect the nations since 1951.<ref name="report">Template:Cite report</ref>

Flooding was beginning to recede in late February by the time Cyclone Eline made landfall.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Eline was a long-lasting tropical cyclone that struck near Beira at peak intensity on February 22.<ref name="report"/> By the end of February 2000, the situation was considered the country's worst natural disaster in a century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Impact

By late February, the flooding had already caused increases in malaria and diarrhea. Flooding also disrupted water supply and covered roads,<ref name="pana124"/> with the primary north-south highway cut in three locations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Widespread areas were inundated, which displaced about 220,000 people,<ref name="dr218">Template:Cite news</ref> and killed about 150 people before Eline struck.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The combined effects of the preceding floods and Eline left about 463,000 people displaced or homeless,<ref name="ocha317">Template:Cite web</ref> including 46,000 children five years old or younger.<ref name="stc37">Template:Cite web</ref> Overall, the preceding floods and Eline caused about 700 deaths,<ref name="report"/> half in Chokwe.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with damage estimated at $500 million (2000 USD).<ref name="report"/> The cyclone and the floods disrupted much of the economic progress Mozambique had made in the 1990s since the end of its civil war.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aftermath

Before the arrival of Eline, the government of Mozambique appealed to the international community for assistance in response to the flooding, and countries were beginning to provide relief.<ref name="report"/> Mozambique's president at the time, Joaquim Chissano, requested for additional aid after Eline struck,<ref name="dr223">Template:Cite news</ref> asking for $65 million for both reconstruction and emergency aid,<ref name="net"/> and later increasing the request to $160 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By March 17, various countries had pledged $119 million to Mozambique.<ref name="ocha317"/> By March 4, 39.6 tons of various relief goods reached the country,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which nearly overwhelmed the small airport at Maputo.<ref name="reut37">Template:Cite news</ref>

The government of the Netherlands donated 5 million guilders (US$2.2 million) to the country, following an earlier donation of about 2 million guilders (US$871,000).<ref name="net">Template:Cite web</ref> The Italian government earmarked 10 billion lira, half of which for immediate emergency assistance,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Denmark earmarked €2.68 million euros.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sweden sent 10 million krona and Ireland €507,000 to the World Food Programme.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Portugal delivered 40 tons worth of aid, including food, medicine, tents, and dinghies,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Spanish Red Cross sent two flights of aid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Canada provided about $11.6 million (CAD) to Mozambique,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while the United States provided $7 million worth of food via its Agency for International Development,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> part of its $50 million contribution.<ref name="jim">Template:Cite news</ref> The European Community Humanitarian Aid Office provided €25 million in early March.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Botswana donated P23 million pula (BWP, US$5 million),<ref name="pana229">Template:Cite news</ref> and Mauritius provided about $100,000 (USD).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The nation of Ghana flew $100,000 worth of food and clothing to Mozambique.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Australia also provided $1 million to the country,<ref name="aaid">Template:Cite web</ref> and Saudi Arabia flew two planes' worth of aid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Concern Worldwide allocated $650,000 (USD) at the end of February.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Médecins Sans Frontières sent a crew of five people to Buzi to help residents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sent $350,000 to CARE in early March.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Through the Jubilee 2000, most wealthy nations postponed debt payments for one year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The United Kingdom canceled its $150 million debt in late February,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Italy canceled its $500 million debt in March.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Mozambique government used boats to evacuate residents in flood zones,<ref name="ocha224">Template:Cite report</ref> setting up 121 camps for evacuees.<ref name="ocha317"/> However, the country had a limited capacity for widespread rescues due to insufficient helicopters.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> South Africa sent a fleet of twelve planes and helicopters to operate search and rescue missions, as well as airdropping food.<ref name="afp229">Template:Cite news</ref> They were assisted by two helicopters from Malawi, six from the United Kingdom, and ten from Germany.<ref name="mal">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By March 7, the fleet of 29 helicopters had rescued 14,204 people.<ref name="mg37">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Residual floodwaters contributed to outbreaks of malaria and cholera,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with malaria infections at four times the usual rate killing at least 11 people.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Areas in southern Mozambique also lost access to clean water, furthering dehydration and illnesses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, the United Nations Mine Action Service expressed concern that the floods shifted the locations of landmines left over from the nation's civil war.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later, the remnants of Cyclone Gloria halted relief work due to heavy rainfall.<ref name="ReliefWeb">Template:Cite web</ref> Residents began returning home in early March after floodwaters receded.<ref name="msf34">Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• BBC News special report
• Guardian interactive guide
• United Nations briefing (broken)
• Guardian special report