Situation Overview
The current response plan provides food assistance for approximately 1.2 million people across all seven drought-affected provinces from October 2016 through March 2017. The total funds received as of the end of November for drought response amount to US$ 121 million out of US$ 179,1 million required to ensure assistance till March 2017, leaving a funding gap of 32%. Furthermore, the revised strategic response plan (SRP) includes a flood component estimated to cost US$ 32 million to respond possible related emergency according to the contingency plan 2016/2017 scenarios.
Land preparation and planting are underway in southern and central areas where normal to above-normal rainfall is expected. Green food will become available in the South in February, followed by the harvest in March. To this end it is crucial to accelerate the seeds distribution to affected population pereferably by end of December 2016. According to the Crop and Early Warning Unit (DCAP) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MASA), as of mid-October, land preparation in the southern region has reached 70 percent of the total planned area, while in the central and northern regions land preparation had reached 50 percent of the total planned area.
The Government of Mozambique, together with the food security cluster members, provided seeds to drought-affected households beginning of August. Additional distributions are planned to be held in December providing access to seeds, hence, good prospects for the agricultural season. The extent to which the informal seed network will meet farmer’s needs is undetermined.Moreover, FEWS NET estimates that between October and December, nearly 1.8 million people will likely face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes. Needs may peak at nearly 2.3 million by the end of March 2017, including potentially flood-affected persons. Volumes of staple foods and commodities are adequately supplied in most monitored markets although the food prices are still relatively high. CHEMO is piloting electronic voucher for food assistance targeting 13,007 households in Tete and Sofala provinces with e-vouchers. To date, 10,378 households have been registered and the problems encountered with the roll-out of e-vouchers include few certified vendors, the illiteracy of the beneficiaries and the poor road network (especially during the rainy season).
The general level of acute malnutrition will likely deteriorate slightly during the lean period, and in some drought-affected areas, global acute malnutrition (GAM) prevalence may go above 10 percent through the end of February 2017. Other factors that could impact GAM prevalence include the possibility of flooding and displacement due to conflict, which could disrupt access to health services. The increased incidence of seasonal diseases, such as diarrhea and malaria, overall poor access to water and sanitation, and low nutrition rehabilitation program coverage also impact people’s vulnerability.
The negative impacts of the ongoing political-military tension are affecting efforts to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to those in need in affected areas. The government recognizes that 2,938 persons have been displaced in Manica and are being accommodated in camps. From 28.11-04.12 it was carried out a joint assessment (Government and HCT) to Manica province to understand what the needs are and the HCT is at the moment developing a response plan to assist the IDPs.
Recent rainfall has not improved either surface or groundwater availability. In all river basins, water levels remain below alert levels. The Pequenos Limbobos dam is at 15% of storage capacity. The water authorities (ARA Sul) are considering limiting the use of water for irrigation so as to ensure the domestic water supplies of Maputo, Matola and Boane municipalities.