Mozambique floodings 2000

Anish Sethi

Mozambique

The disasterous Mozambique floods occurred in February and March 2000. It was a natural, catastrophic disaster, which left many in a struggle and tough fight for life. The floods were the worst Mozambique had experienced for over 50 years!

There were a number of key events which lead up to the horrific floodings! To begin with, on January 4th 2000 a three day storm struck over Mozambique and North East South Africa, over 350mm of precipitation fell in ine day. After this during late January and February, nearly continuous heavy rain fell for over 5 weeks. The total rainfall of February was at a staggering 1163mm compareedf to the average of 177mm, that’s nearly 7 times as much. Late February Cyclone Eline hit Mozambique, with full force. Even more Terrential, unexpected rain was brought into the country making the situation at hand much much worse!

Mozambique being a less economically developed country (LEDC) meant that there were no major advanced warnings to detect wether a large Cyclone or large amount of rain was to hit the country so quicly. This meant Mozambique were at a larger disadvantage compared to MEDC’s, who would have been able to prepare for such natural disasters. Also Mozambique being a country of little grassland meant that the precipitation had a small area to absorb into. With surroundiong countrys also at risk of being flooded they opened there damns meaning water would rush down the river. This had a big ...

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Diseases such as Malaria became more of a risk to people as it could easily be passed around in congested camps. The rain water became even more dirty and harmful with dead animals left lying in it, peoples waste and other harful chemicals all left to pass on diseasaes to people quicker. Many families had to move out of there houses and live up on hills and there crops and animals were left to be killed by the evern increasing water levels. Many were trapped up in trees and on top of houses! Babys were washed away by the high currents, leaving parebts heart broken! Major roads linking the North and South of Mozambique together were washed away making it harder for rescue services to help.

However help was received from a number of countries. Firstkly many helicopters were brought over from all around the world to help rescue people out of tight situations. 6 British helicopters went out to save lives of people stuck ion trees or on house rooves etc. Also soldiers were brought in to Mozambique to keep the peace of people who were anxious and worried and also to help organise camps and there food and water supplys.

In the future, such disasters in Mozambique could be prevented from being so major in a number of ways. Schemes could be put up instructing people what to do when flooding occurs again, for instence marking out certain points on a mapwhich would be the safest most reliable place to go to when the water levels begin to rise. High river levis to increase the amount of water that’s able to be held until breaking point meaning people would have more time to react to the floodings.

What makes the Mozambique floodings different to those that occurred in Britain recently was that aid was at hand for those at risk. Also emergency services were well prepared for the events that would later take place. On top of this those at risk were warned to move out there houses once the flooding got beyond a certain point. This meant that thoise at risk had plans for where they would go when they had to move out!