Red Cross launches appeal as thousands evacuated from floods

At least 55,000 people threatened by floods in Mozambique have been evacuated – all, remarkably, in small boats.

The Southern Africa Appeal will provide non-food relief items such as blankets, tarpaulins and kitchen sets for 100,000 people.

Mozambique is the worst affected country with 57,000 people affected, and 1,000 households and 37,000 hectares of land destroyed. The government has declared a red alert.

	It is vital the international community continues to provide support as needs will increase with thousands displaced from their homes. Lois Austin, British Red Cross

“We now have about 500 volunteers involved round-the-clock in rescue operations,” said Fernanda Teixeira, the secretary general of the Mozambique Red Cross. “They are also helping to welcome displaced people in shelters set up by the government.”

Five other countries are affected: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

The Government of Zambia, where 800 people have been affected, has put 34 out of the country’s 72 districts on red alert. In Zimbabwe, heavy rains have continued since December, with the floods affecting 10,300 people.

The situation is especially precarious for populations across the region, which was hit by floods a year ago.

Lois Austin, British Red Cross relief operations manager, said: “To date, the emergency response has seen the success of disaster preparedness work, but it is vital the international community continues to provide support as needs will increase with thousands displaced from their homes.”

Read the Southern Africa Appeal information sheet