Mozambique Flooding

Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa, and is a poor and undeveloped country. It is also very humid and wet. Usually continuous and heavy torrential rains bring the flood season, occurring from November to April. During this time, cyclones attack the country, bringing rains of more than 1163 mm, compared to the average 177 mm.

Major reasons include the fact that swamps that hold rainwater are gradually drained to make farmlands; huge grasslands and plains are being destroyed for the same reason,which usually soak up rainwater and release it slowly throughout the year into the rivers. Also, which Mozambique was the worst hit during floods compared with neighboring countries like Zambia,

Zimbabwe and Tanzania, because it has a huge population: 25 million over such a small country, meaning whenever a disaster hits, an enormous number of people are affected; also, makeshift houses made of wood and metal bits and pieces in the slums next to the capital are the first to be swept away when a flood comes.

In 2000, a major flood left thousands dead, millions injured and a huge loss of personal belongings. Diseases like spread rapidly, like dengue fever and typhoid. Also, malnutrition was common because of lack of electricity, medical supplies, clean water and dry food. Trucks bringing these supplies after the water had receded were often stuck in the mud, as most bridges and roads were washed away, bringing long-term economic and social problems.

The US and the UK sent helicopters to help with the rescue effort, but with little success. Shelter camps were also set up, but conditions were terrible: there was no privacy nor hygiene; little food and lack of medical supplies. International aid was also given from societies like Red Cross, but money was not enough. However, the Mozambique government did not do anything to stop the flooding – this was probably because they were too poor. So citizens did whatever they needed to stop the waters: sandbags barriers, planting trees to soak up water…

Whichever way, floods are just another big issue to deal with by those poor, struggling people, just hoping to survive in the merciless world.