Summary:
In January 2012, two tropical storms and cyclones hit Mozambique. The tropical Cyclone Funso affected the northern coast of the country, while Storm Dando affected mostly Gaza and Maputo provinces. To support the response operation, IFRC deployed a four-person Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) consisting of water and sanitation, logistics, communication and coordination specialist, for 10 days. A FACT team composed of health and shelter technical experts was deployed initially to support CVM staff at the national, provincial and district levels in the operation. A second deployment of a FACT leader was made to support CVM in reviewing the Emergency Plan of Action. To further support CVM during the emergency operation an IFRC operations manager was deployed.
The operation accomplished much to address the most urgent needs of the affected population. However, low appeal coverage (39% of the appeal target) meant that many planned activities were only partially undertaken and some did not commence.
Non-food items (NFIs) including mosquito nets, tarpaulins, shelter kits, soap, blankets, jerry cans, water purification tablets (Certeza) and oral rehydration salts (ORS) were distributed to affected families.
Volunteers conducted water chlorination activities at the water points and during household visits, and conducted 388 hygiene and health promotion campaigns in Zambezia, Maputo Province, Maputo City and Gaza Provinces reaching a total of 17,206 people. Water treatment tablets as well as treated drinking water were distributed, benefitting a total of 41,663 beneficiaries. This contributed to a reduced incidence of both diarrheal and malaria diseases in Gaza and Zambezia provinces.
In the initial phase of the response operation, community-based disease prevention and hygiene promotion activities were implemented. CVM staff and volunteers provided hygiene and health promotion information to the target population, carrying out more than 530 sensitization sessions and house visits, reaching over 25,800 beneficiaries. In addition, 15 latrines were constructed and communities were sensitized on their proper use.
In May, the second phase of recovery was initiated with the implementation of community-based disease prevention and hygiene promotion activities, distribution of shelter tool kits, tarpaulins, mosquito nets and seeds, training of volunteers on Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) and Disaster Risk Reduction.
To finish with the shelter component of this appeal, the CVM built 40 prototypes of housing to increase resilience and response capacity of communities living in coastal areas of Zambezia province through the “building back better” approach using demonstrative prototypes.
Replenishment of stock used in the initial response was made during November which included purchasing emergency response items such as emergency kits for volunteers, mosquito nets, shelter tool kits, water and sanitation materials, and tarpaulins.
Overspends for storage and distributions largely reflect trade-offs against savings on transport and vehicles. General Expenditure overspends reflect the relatively recent change to use the “shared office and service costs” expenditure category for costs originally budgeted under Personnel and office costs categories. Additional overspends under Financial Charges are almost entirely due to foreign exchange differences. Overspends also reflect unreported working advance from the National Society under other general expenses category. Over expenditure in travel is due to the need for the frequent travel from the end of the FACT mission in order to set up the operations management office.
The remaining balance of CHF 10,923 (closing balance of CHF 8,020 and a deferred income of CHF 2,903) at the end of the operation will be rolled over into the Southern Africa Regional Representation Office development plan to support operations coordination.
