Mozambique – Flash Report Rain Damages to Resettlement Sites (11 December 2019)

With the onset of rainy season in Mozambique, varying degrees of damage is expected to infrastructures in resettlement sites. On 11 December 2019, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted rapid assessment in 55 resettlement sites across Sofala and Manica provinces after the heavy rain on 10 December 2019.

In total, 151 upgraded shelters, 91 emergency shelters and 257 tents were completely destroyed due to the heavy rain.  IOM identified that an additional 150 shelters (upgraded, emergency shelters and tents) had major structural damages to walls and/or roofing, 3,608 shelters were partially damaged (including those shelters that were flooded) and 305 latrines were damaged.  In Metuchira resettlement sites, 1 clinic was majorly damaged and will require structural repair, while 1 clinic was partially damaged in Kura resettlement site.  Even when the flood water was mostly gone after the heavy rain in most of the sites, many families still face minor damages to their shelters and lost household items and food.

As the rainy season progresses, the frequency of heavy rain and the probability of cyclones will increase.  The gap in the capacity of actors to prepare and respond to this phenomena is  still significant across resettlement sites.  Prevention and preparedness measures need to be put in place to mitigate the immediate effect of the rain.  It is imperative that all shelters are reinforced and protected by flood mitigation measures to prevent them from collapsing or being damaged.