Floods could affect over 59,000 families in Beira, Mozambique

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Floods could affect over 59,000 families in Beira, Mozambique

9:48 CAT | 07 Nov 2017

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Mozambique’s National Institute of Natural Disaster Management INGC has warned that as many as 59, 000 families living in the city of Beira may be affected by floods, between the now and March 2018.The deputy director of the agency, Casimiro de Abreu, said this could happen, taking into account that rainfall is expected to be above normal, APA can report on Tuesday.

“We expect that when the floods begin to affect the different communities in the city of Beira, more than 59,000 families will eventually be affected,” de Abreu told APA in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

Like many African coastal cities, Beira, which lies just above sea-level is in a race against time to protect itself from cyclones, floods and rising sea-water levels. It is a challenge that Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest countries, is ill-equipped to tackle alone.

Experts say climate change will increase the severity of cyclones and flooding, particularly along the country’s 2,700 kilometres of coastline.

Also Read: Flooded out in Beira: A month’s rainfall in just two days – Mozambique

Casimiro de Abreu was speaking after the rehabilitation and rehabilitation project for the Beira drainage system was launched on Tuesday, a project that aims essentially to mitigate floods in the city.

Most of Beira’s more than 500,000 residents live in poverty, even though the city’s port is a thriving gateway to the Indian Ocean for landlocked Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, de Abreu pointed out.

Cluttered buildings over rainwater streams in the city of Beira have been singled out as a major cause of flooding there, and the Municipal Council of Beira is aware of this, and wants to ensure that the scenario will change.

Also Read: Government approves creation of disaster management fund – Mozambique

With a master plan now drawn up to make Beira more resilient and sustainable by 2035, Casimiro de Abreu is hoping a partnership between the city and private investors will help to raise the $100 million he estimates it will cost to make the city “disaster-proof”.

Source: APA