Mozambique Hit by a Flood Disaster, Again: What Role for the Scientific Community

The Lower Zambezi basin in Mozambique covers an area of approximately 225,000 km2 from the Cahora Bassa Reservoir to the Zambezi Delta, and supports more than 3.8 million people (25% of the total population of Mozambique). The Zambezi Delta is a broad, flat alluvial plain along the coast of central Mozambique. Some 800 Mozambicans died in floods caused by two cyclones in 2000 and 2001 in the Zambezi River Valley in central Mozambique. Recently, seven years later, the same Zambezi River Valley was hit by heavy rain which was followed by Cyclone Favio. This event triggered flash floods along the Zambezi River and its tributaries, washing away homes, bridges, livestock and crops, and killing at least 45 people. The country's national relief agency INGC established an emergency operation centre to coordinate relief operations. By February 25, 2007, 53,000 people have been moved to accommodation centers and an estimated 36,000 people have lost virtually all their possessions. Due to the extent of the flooded area, rescue and supply operations are very difficult, and conditioned upon the availability of helicopters. Temporary accommodation centres have faced problems of food and fuel shortages, and delays in the distribution of food and fresh water are raising concerns with malnutrition and the outbreak of waterborne diseases. One of the major problems in the region is water management and regulation. The main structure to regulate water discharge in the Zambezi River is the Mozambique's largest Hydro-electric dam, Cahora Bassa. Water regulation from this structure during floods is particularly difficult due to transnational inflows passing through the neighbouring countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Since the flood disaster of 2000/2001 occurred, the need to improve and strengthen disaster prevention has been a high priority of the Mozambique Government and its donors. Mozambique's Action Plan for the reduction of Absolute Poverty identified vulnerability to such natural disasters as a basic dimension of poverty. However, in spite of these advances the situation with the current flood disaster shows the need for a revision of this program to reduce future flood damage in the country. These revisions should include: 1) readjustments in the actual disaster relieve strategies; 2) disaster risk management to minimize the impact of flooding on individuals and communities; and 3) floodplain management in terms of (i) reviewing regulations intending to modify susceptibility to flood damage and disruption and (ii) the studying of alternative solutions for flood control in the affected areas. Interestingly, while the central provinces of Mozambique are facing floods, the southern part of the country is being hit by drought. To deal with this scenario it is important that the resulting floodplain management strategy accounts for regional and transboundary character of targeted water systems and thus be integrated with regional water resources, river development, and management programs. As part of this process collaborative research in the areas of hydroclimatology, impacts, and management of extraordinary floods is needed and should be encouraged within the region and internationally.