Commission allocates €2 M in emergency aid to flood victims in Mozambique

The European Commission has allocated €2 million in an emergency decision to help flood victims in Mozambique. Flooding provoked by torrential rains has seriously affected people in four Southern African countries with Mozambique worst hit. Dozens have been killed, thousands are homeless and crops have been severely damaged. In the most affected region, the flooded Zambezi river valley in central Mozambique, 60,000 people have been evacuated and more than 100,000 others are at risk. An emergency expert from the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, ECHO, is already in the affected region, assessing the basic needs of flood victims and liaising with relief agencies on rescue operations to be funded. The Commission's main objective is to ensure that flood victims are resettled in safer areas with access to clean water and adequate health care, in particular to prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases. The emergency funds are channelled through ECHO under the responsibility of Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

Commissioner Michel said: "Many Europeans have experienced flooding in recent years and we know how important it is to get rapid assistance in such a terrible situation. Our thoughts are with those trapped by the rising waters – but not just our thoughts: The European Commission has acted quickly to provide humanitarian assistance to the flood victims in Mozambique. We have been assessing the evolving situation on the spot and have been in contact with partner relief organisations and the disaster management team of Mozambique's government. This enables us to provide the most effective support for rescue operations."

The rainy season in Mozambique normally lasts until the end of March but rainfalls recorded recently, and believed to be influenced by the El Niño effect, have been exceptionally high.

Commission-funded humanitarian aid projects are implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. ECHO has an emergency expert in Mozambique who is closely following developments in the humanitarian situation and will play an active role in the local coordination of relief efforts. He will also monitor the use of the Commission's relief funds.