Mozambique: Cholera a concern in wake of floods

With more than 150,000 people still living in camps after recent floods in Mozambique, aid agencies say they are focusing on mobilizing communities to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases. 

"It is all about hygiene and sanitation practices and conditions,” says Claudio Jamal, World Vision emergency manager. “We have been training communities on the use of the hygiene kits and water purifiers we distributed.” 

In January, heavy rains flooded southern Mozambique, killing more than 100 people. Houses, crops, and infrastructure were severely damaged. 

 World Vision spokesperson Eleuterio Fenito says about 77,000 children are among the 150,000 displaced. Approximately 37,000 are not able to attend school, either because their families had to relocate or their schools were too badly damaged. 

World Vision is assisting displaced persons in four camps in Gaza province, in southern Mozambique. Child-Friendly Spaces are also being set up so that children will have a safe place to play and recover.

Additionally, the U.N. news agency has reported a cholera outbreak affecting 22 people in the northern town of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province, an area that has also seen heavy floods. 

This is only the beginning of the flood and cyclone season, which continues through April.