WFP、モザンビーク大洪水でヘリコプターによる食糧配給開始(和文要約、本文は英文）

カイア（モザンビーク）発−モザンビーク中部では、ここ数年来最大の洪水が発生し、推定8万5千人が避難を余儀なくされているが、WFPはヘリコプターでの救助活動と食糧配給を開始した。14日、WFPはヘリコプターを使って2.5トンの食糧を避難所に届けた。また、洪水で身動きがとれなくなった120人を救助するためココリコ島に飛んだ。

モザンビークの国立災害対策機関は昨日、事態には対応できていると発表した。しかし、雨季はまだ一ヶ月残っている上、ザンビアやマラウイでは大雨が続いているため、この先状況が悪化する可能性がある。同機関によれば、現在8万5千人が避難しており、うち2万9千人が避難所にいる。

同機関は、最悪の場合、以後数ヶ月にわたり28万5千人が食糧やその他の支援を必要とすると推測している。モザンビークでは洪水で4万ヘクタール分の作物が被害を受けた。4・5月の収穫期を前に、作物はちょうど成長のピークを迎えていたところだった。

今年はこれまでにアンゴラ、マダガスカル、マラウイ、ザンビア、ジンバブエでも洪水が発生している。WFPはそのつど対処してきたが、深刻な資金不足に悩まされている。南部アフリカで今年末まで活動を続けていくためには１億５百万ドルが必要である。


WFP STARTS HELICOPTER RESCUE & FOOD DELIVERIES TO VICTIMS OF MOZAMBIQUE FLOODS

CAIA, Mozambique – The United Nations World Food Programme said a WFP-chartered helicopter had started rescue and food delivery missions in central Mozambique where the worst flooding in years has forced an estimated 85,000 people to flee their homes.

A WFP-chartered Mi-8 helicopter, flying from the town of Caia and coordinated by the government’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC), delivered 2.5 metric tons of WFP food on Wednesday (14 February) to an accommodation centre in Shamrrucha for people displaced by the floods.

The helicopter also began rescue missions yesterday, flying to Cocorico island, where 120 people were trapped by floodwaters. The Mi-8 is continuing food delivery missions from its Caia base today.

WFP and its partners began distributing food aid this week to 2,000 people in temporary accommodation centres in Caia district and 6,100 people in Mutarara district of Tete Province.

Some 10,000 litres of JetA1 fuel for the helicopter arrived today in Caia by road.

Heavy rains in central and northern Mozambique and neighbouring Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe over the last month flooded the Zambezi, Chire and Rivubue rivers in Tete, Manica, Sofala and Zambezia provinces. The 800-kilometre-long Lower Zambezi River in Mozambique is above alert levels. Flood waters in Mutarara, Caia and Marromeu districts are nearing levels last seen during the catastrophic Mozambique floods of 2001.

A total of about 10,000 people affected by the Zambezi Valley floods have so far received WFP food.

The INGC said yesterday the situation was under control, but with nearly a month left in the rainy season and continued heavy downpours in neighbouring Zambia and Malawi, the situation could worsen in the weeks ahead. The INGC reports that the floods have displaced 85,000 people, of whom 29,000 are sheltering in accommodation centres.

The Lower Zambezi is still being fed through tributaries by rains from neighbouring countries such as Zambia. The Cahora Bassa Dam in Tete province yesterday reduced its discharge rate to 6,000 cubic metres per second compared with 8,400 cubic metres per second at the weekend. Influx to the dam was 10,000 cubic metres per second last week but the discharge was then lowered both because of a reduced influx and to protect downstream dykes near communities.

If the government can control the dam outflows and rains in neighbouring countries decline, flooding on a scale similar to 2001 could be averted.

The Government of Mozambique has deployed troops to evacuate people from the worst-hit areas, but some people have refused to leave their homes, their land and their livestock. The INGC also has a dozen boats that are ferrying people to higher ground in Caia district.

WFP and other in-country humanitarian agencies will soon launch an appeal to support the Mozambique government’s efforts to contain the crisis. WFP’s portion of the appeal is expected to include food aid, air operations to participate in the rescue and delivery of relief supplies, and telecommunications to facilitate government coordination of the humanitarian response.

The INGC estimates that 285,000 people in Mozambique may need food and other assistance for the next few months in a worst-case scenario.

An estimated 40,000 hectares of crops have been lost in Mozambique under the floods. Crops are currently in their peak growing and development period ahead of the April/May harvest.

So far this year, flooding has also hit Angola, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. WFP has responded across the region, but faces a critical shortfall in funding for all its operations in southern Africa, requiring US$105 million through to the end of 2007.