Press Release

UNICEF Appeals for Funds to Assist Tens of Thousands of Flood Victims in Mozambique

UNICEF is seeking $6.8 million to meet the needs of tens of thousands of children and women affected by severe flooding of the Limpopo River in Mozambique. Some of the country’s heaviest rainfall in years prompted an Orange Alert on January 12 and a Red Alert on January 22. The southern province of Gaza is hardest hit by the flooding. More than 80 people have died, and as many as 200,000 people have been displaced.

NEW YORK (February 14, 2013) — UNICEF is seeking $6.8 million to meet the needs of tens of thousands of children and women affected by severe flooding of the Limpopo River in Mozambique.

UNICEF’s response will focus on addressing critical water supply and hygiene issues; plugging gaps in basic health care services; ensuring adequate nutrition; and providing psycho-social support to children and their families. In addition, more than 180 primary schools, 200 classrooms and 54,000 pupils have been affected by the floods. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education to provide classroom tents and learning materials.

Some of the country’s heaviest rainfall in years prompted an Orange Alert on January 12 and a Red Alert on January 22. The southern province of Gaza is hardest hit by the flooding. More than 80 people have died, and as many as 200,000 people have been displaced.

“The magnitude of the flooding in the last few weeks has meant that emergency supplies and funding has been depleted,” said UNICEF Representative Jesper Morch. “It is clear that we urgently need additional funds if we are to help many children and families recover from their losses and rebuild their lives.”

Floodwaters are slowly receding and people are returning to their homes, but a large clean-up is required before affected areas are fit for living. Meanwhile, new floods in the central and northern regions of the country have displaced 45,000 more people, seriously stretching the capacity to respond.

The Government has provided $10 million in aid, and another $5.3 million has been released by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, in addition to bilateral, non-governmental and faith-based in-kind contributions and financial assistance. The Humanitarian Country Team in Mozambique—composed of UN and non-governmental organizations—requires a total of $30.6 million for relief operations, of which $6.8 million is for UNICEF’s support to children, their families and communities.

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when ZERO children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For additional information, please contact:
Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org
Kiní Schoop, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2634, kschoop@unicefusa.org