Mozambique: Five dead while cleaning a community well in Mecumbura, Mágoè
File photo: Lusa
More than a third of central Mozambique’s population is vulnerable to flooding, according to a new report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Mozambique’s risks from natural disasters, consulted on Wednesday by Lusa.
“The analysis shows that the population of 38% of the localities at risk is threatened by flooding,” which in March 2019 caused many of the 600 or so deaths during the passage of cyclone Idai.
The report covered 498 localities in Tete, Manica, Zambézia and Sofala provinces, most of which were affected by Idai, and concluded that 191 are vulnerable to flooding.
Only three districts in Central Mozambique were left out of the report, Gorongosa, Gondola, and Maringue corresponding to an area affected by armed violence.
A total of 71% of settlements are still vulnerable to wind and heavy rain, and about half of them face access difficulties with damaged roads.
The report published in January is based on interviews conducted in November 2019, during which it became clear that 70% of the villages have evacuation plans in the event of a natural disaster and 82% have public buildings that can serve as a shelter in the event of an emergency.
“It was indicated that there are 2,394 public buildings that can serve as an emergency shelter for 601,224 people,” the report said.
The rainy season (October to April) in Mozambique is invariably marked by bad weather that causes victims and damage.
This season, the death toll has risen to 29, the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) announced on Tuesday.
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