Effects Of Floods In Angola And Mozambique

Angola

A vast network of impermanent rivers and lakes border Angola and Namibia. During rainy seasons water has been seen to transform the landscape that is parched. Rain provides water that is very much needed .however the rains can bring severe effects flooding being one of them. Angola has been affected by floods and the worst hit provinces are Cuando Cubango and Cunene. Cunene has been the worst hit due to the fact that it lies on Cuvelai River. These floods have affected Angola in various ways.

Deaths

The floods in Angola led to loss of lives. It was recorded that 114 people died as a result of the floods. The deaths were caused by drowning of the people in the areas that had flooded. The people drowned as they tried to salvage some things in their homes. Further deaths were caused by water borne diseases that became rampant after the floods. Some people were also reported missing and they were never found and it was assumed that they died.

Rendering people homeless

The floods experienced in Angola left many people homeless. About 25,000 people in Angola were left without homes due to the floods. The floods destroyed many houses carrying away personal belongings of the people. Those affected resorted to staying in the forest or tents that were donated. In the tents people were crowded and they lacked basic necessities. Sanitation was also a major problem since people lived in congestion.

Water borne diseases

The floods exacerbated diseases that were already in existence in the Angola particularly malaria and cholera. The diseases spread fast due to lack of sanitation and clean water for the people. Wells and latrines had been contaminated by the flood water and this led to local communities being cut off from the water supply that they enjoyed before the floods. There existence of stagnant ponds further worsens the situation as they are breeding sites for mosquitoes that carry malaria. The absence of clean water for the people that were affected by the floods exposes them to death and risk of diseases.

Destruction of land and property

The floods saw destruction of a lot of property as well as infrastructure. Many roads were cut off. This led to accessibility of some towns only through boats. There were also destructions of thousands of hectares of land that had been used for farming. Cows and goats among other animals were also destroyed by the floods. Bridges broke down, schools were destroyed and roads were submerged. The floods therefore brought about serious problems of transport as the channels of transport were destroyed. Children stayed out of schools since the schools had been destroyed by the floods.

Mozambique

Rain from Botswana and other countries in southern Africa ran to Zambezi, Limpopo and other rivers that use Mozambique on their way to the sea.yje bursting of the banks of these rivers led to severe floods in Mozambique. There were several effects of the floods in Mozambique.

Displacement

People were forced to flee from their homes as a result of the floods. Many people were displaced they resulted to living in the open, under trees as well as seeking refuge anywhere they could find, close to 150,000 people faced danger due to lack of food as well as the diseases they were exposed to. It was estimated that 100,000 people needed evacuation and close to 7000 had been trapped in trees. The floods also caused trauma on children, women and everyone else who fell victim of the floods.

Homeless

The worst flooding that was recorded in over 50 years made almost a million people homeless out of 19 million people that live in Mozambique. In Maputo the capital of Mozambique people fled from their homes. Those who were affected greatly were people that were living in makeshift homes especially in slums that were located around the capital city. Seventy percent of the people lived in poverty with a large build up of temporary shelters that were washed away. In the northern part of the country, Gaza thousands was also left without shelter.

Illness

Water borne diseases became rampant in Mozambique, the diseases were in existence before the floods but after the flood diseases such as malaria and cholera became widespread. The fact that transport problems were in existence due to the washing away or railway lines and road it became difficult for aid as well as medical supplies to get to the victims of the floods. The families in Limpopo valley were hit by dysentery outbreaks. Many people died due to the illness as well as drowning

Economy

The economy of Mozambique was affected greatly. The country had been making strides in rebuilding I the economy after civil war. The made the process of reduction of poverty to salt. The destruction of roads, dikes irrigation systems, health centers, schools and other social infrastructure will cost the country a lot of money when it comes to doing repairs. This will affect the economy adversely as a lot of money will be used to facilitate this. The economic disruption led to families being plunged deeper into levels of extreme poverty.

Overall destruction

Bridges, crops, roads and homes were destroyed. The supply of electricity was disrupted in many towns that had been affected by the floods. Water pumping stations were swept away leading to lack of clean water in towns that had been previously supplied by these stations. Floods in sofala resulted to the impermeability of the north-south road which is Mozambique’s road and hence transport links were cut between the capital city and Beira which is the second city. Services were cut off that resulted to many people being stranded. There was damage of schools and educational institutions that led to the disruption of the education of children in Mozambique. The education quality and continuity was disrupted and the increased poverty led to children turning to work instead of attending school.

References

Carmell, P. (2012).Effects of the 2000 flood in Mozambique. Retrieved march 9, 2013 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_6884360_effects-2000-flood-mozambique.htmlCornish. (2010).Mozambique floods.Retrievd march 10, 2013 from http://www.slideshare.net/mrcornish/mozambique-floods-powerpointMail&Guardian. (2009).Angola floods leave 20000 homeless. Retrieved march 10, 2013 from http://mg.co.za/article/2009-03-13-angola-floods-leave-20nbsp000-homelessNduru, M. (2007). SOUTHERN AFRICA: Floods Leave Trail of Destruction, Disease. Retrieved march 10, 2013 from http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/02/southern-africa-floods-leave-trail-of-destruction-disease/