2000 Mozambique flood
Encyclopedia
The 2000 Mozambique flood was a natural disaster
that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall that lasted for five weeks and made many homeless. Approximately 800 people were killed. 1,400 km² of arable land was affected and 20,000 head of cattle were lost. It was the worst flood in the Mozambique in 50 years.
The floods began on 8 February with a lot of rain across South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland
was also affected. Mozambique received the most rainfall, the capital Maputo was flooded. Torrential rain continued to the 11th of February, in Mozambique's Limpopo Valley, the banks of the Limpopo River burst, causing severe flood damage; residents of the area are struck with dysentery.
On 22 February, tropical Cyclone Leon–Eline hit the Mozambican coast near Beira. On February 27, flash floods overwhelmed low farmlands around Chokwe and Xai-Xai
Over 45,000 people were rescued from rooftops, trees and other isolated areas. This effort was at first carried out by only a few Mozambican naval vessels. The governments of South Africa, Malawi, and Mozambique provided a few helicopters to the rescue team. One of the devastating images of the flooding was Sofia Pedro giving birth in a tree while surrounded by flood water. She was then rescued by the South African Air Force who flew both her and her new daughter Rositha Pedro to Chibuto. Action by the government and international aid organizations was slow. Significant rescue equipment arrived from Europe and North America three weeks after the onset of the flood.
The flood had a tremendous effect on the agriculture of Mozambique. About three (????) children died from starvation, after being isolated with families on islands. 90% of the country's functioning irrigation infrastructure was damaged, causing the worst of the agriculture losses suffered. 1,400 square kilometres of cultivated and grazing land was lost, leaving 113,000 small farming households with nothing. 20,000 heads of missing cattle were reported, many were feared to have drowned or contracted disease. Every major valley south of Beira
was affected by the overflowing of rivers.
630 schools were closed, leaving 214,000 students and teachers without classrooms. 42 health units were destroyed, including Beira Central Hospital, the second largest in the country. Animals were found dead on the floor which were swept away by the amazing force of the water.
The Mozambican government requested $450 million in international aid at a donor conference held in Rome in early May, 2000.
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall that lasted for five weeks and made many homeless. Approximately 800 people were killed. 1,400 km² of arable land was affected and 20,000 head of cattle were lost. It was the worst flood in the Mozambique in 50 years.
Flooding
EWLINE
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The floods began on 8 February with a lot of rain across South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
was also affected. Mozambique received the most rainfall, the capital Maputo was flooded. Torrential rain continued to the 11th of February, in Mozambique's Limpopo Valley, the banks of the Limpopo River burst, causing severe flood damage; residents of the area are struck with dysentery.
On 22 February, tropical Cyclone Leon–Eline hit the Mozambican coast near Beira. On February 27, flash floods overwhelmed low farmlands around Chokwe and Xai-Xai
Over 45,000 people were rescued from rooftops, trees and other isolated areas. This effort was at first carried out by only a few Mozambican naval vessels. The governments of South Africa, Malawi, and Mozambique provided a few helicopters to the rescue team. One of the devastating images of the flooding was Sofia Pedro giving birth in a tree while surrounded by flood water. She was then rescued by the South African Air Force who flew both her and her new daughter Rositha Pedro to Chibuto. Action by the government and international aid organizations was slow. Significant rescue equipment arrived from Europe and North America three weeks after the onset of the flood.
The flood had a tremendous effect on the agriculture of Mozambique. About three (????) children died from starvation, after being isolated with families on islands. 90% of the country's functioning irrigation infrastructure was damaged, causing the worst of the agriculture losses suffered. 1,400 square kilometres of cultivated and grazing land was lost, leaving 113,000 small farming households with nothing. 20,000 heads of missing cattle were reported, many were feared to have drowned or contracted disease. Every major valley south of Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
was affected by the overflowing of rivers.
630 schools were closed, leaving 214,000 students and teachers without classrooms. 42 health units were destroyed, including Beira Central Hospital, the second largest in the country. Animals were found dead on the floor which were swept away by the amazing force of the water.
The Mozambican government requested $450 million in international aid at a donor conference held in Rome in early May, 2000.