UN RESPONDS TO FLOODING IN ZAMBIA

UN RESPONDS TO FLOODING IN ZAMBIA

(Reissued as received.)

NEW YORK, 10 May (OCHA) –- The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies are responding to humanitarian needs created by floods in Zambia that now affect more than 20,000 people.

Flooding in western and north-western Zambia began as far back as December of 2003.  One district, Kalabo, has, for example, recorded rainfalls that are 66 per cent above average.  As many rice and maize fields have been submerged and food stocks have been depleted by years of food shortages, an increase in malnutrition rates is feared.  Flooding has spread disease among livestock that are fundamental to the economy of the region.  Some 39 schools have been submerged or destroyed by the waters.  Health centres have been destroyed, and water and sanitation facilities have been rendered inoperable, with outbreaks of dysentery being reported.

In response, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released an emergency grant of $43,500 for the purchase of such emergency supplies as water purification sachets, blankets, mosquito nets and jerry cans.  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied tents and “School in a box” kits.  The Government of Zambia has carried out evacuations of several areas and its Disaster Management and Migration Unit has propositioned 150 metric tonnes of food in the seven most affected districts.  The Zambia Red Cross, together with the international Federation of the Red Cross has provided emergency goods and is appealing for more supplies like tarpaulins and portable latrines.  A multi-agency team comprising government ministries, non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies will report back once its latest assessment of needs in the area is completed.

Zambia is classified as having “Low Human Development” with a Human Development Index ranking 163rd out of 175 countries.  The whole of Zambia is recovering from severe food insecurity as a result of a complex combination of drought, high HIV/AIDS prevalence and endemic poverty.  In 2002, the number of humanitarian aid beneficiaries totalled 2.6 million people.  This number was brought down to less than 500,000 in 2003.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHANY, tel.: 917 367 5126, mobile: 917 892 1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel.: 41 22 917 2653, mobile: 41(0) 79 473 4570.

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