New York - UNICF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy today said that the people of southern Africa were facing a "massive
humanitarian disaster" unless the international community stepped up emergency
relief for flood-ravaged Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and
Madagascar.
"If the governments of the world are going
to help, the time is now - not tomorrow or the next day," Bellamy declared.
"The people of southern Africa are in desperate straits and cannot hang
on much longer." She pointed out that thousands of people were still literally
hanging on to treetops, rooftops, and bushy outcroppings as flood waters
swirled around them. There has been a notable shortage of helicopters to
carry out rescue and delivery operations in isolated areas, although additional
machinery has been arriving in recent days.
"The people and governments in this flood-affected
region are doing their utmost to survive and prevail, but they need our
help," Bellamy added. "Rescuing the distressed, reaching out to the displaced,
giving hope to the despondent are all within our power. It is our moral
obligation."
Bellamy noted that two weeks have passed
since she toured Mozambique and personally witnessed the devastation wrought
by the region's worst flooding in more than 50 years. "It was terrible
then," she said, "and circumstances since then have steadily worsened.
The international community must recognize that these floods have doubled
or tripled in magnitude, and that far more people are at risk now then
when this first began."
Bellamy was in Mozambique February 17-20
and toured flood-affected areas by helicopter and on foot. She noted that
Mozambique is one of the world's poorest nations, with a GNP per capita
of roughly $140 (1997) figure. Even before the present disaster Mozambique
was ranked 10th in under-5 mortality, and has a life expectancy
at birth of only 44 years.
Throughout the region, it is estimated
that 800,000 to1 million people lost their homes and are now in need of
urgent humanitarian relief.
UNICEF, working with other members of the
UN family as well as NGOs and national and provincial governments, has
been working to provide emergency relief since the first days of February.
The agency has delivered large quantities of medical supplies and oral
re-hydration sachets to Mozambique and Botswana, and is providing technical
support for stabilizing water supplies, providing proper sanitation, and
preparing for possible outbreaks of cholera, malaria and other diseases
throughout the region.
In addition to addressing the immediate
health threats posed by sanitation problems and contaminated water supplies,
UNICEF is concerned about the impact of the floods on the schooling of
children - even in areas that have not been directly hit by flood waters.
Throughout the region, school buildings are being used as makeshift shelter
locations, disrupting education and extending the impact of the disaster
to thousands of additional children and families.
A UN flash appeal to address these issues
and others is seeking approximately $14 million for Mozambique alone. Appeals
for the other countries are being finalized pending ongoing assessment
missions.
"When an earthquake hits, it grips our
attention because it does its damage in a matter of minutes," Ballamy said,
"This kind of disaster develops slowly, building over a period of weeks.
That's why it's important that we keep our focus on this crisis, and treat
it just as urgently as we would an earthquake."
To help victims of the Mozambique floods,
please contact:
U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Chicago
625 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1801
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 255.0400 or visit their
website at www.unicefusa.org