Citation
Wilson, H. (2001), "Mozambique & the Great Flood of 2000", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 197-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2001.10.3.197.6
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
During March 2000, the world watched spell‐bound as Rosita and her mother were rescued from a tree where she was born. Nothing as dramatic as that had been captured live on camera. But was Mozambique prepared for the floods that occurred?
The answer is yes and no. Yes they were prepared for floods but not of that scale. Yet their preparation prevented the extreme event becoming a catastrophe.
The supply of aid from scores of international agencies and the assistance of the air forces of ten nations worked effectively. Partly due to the fact that the United Nations and other agencies worked under the guidance of the Mozambique emergency planners. This is one of the disaster response lessons that has been long in the learning. Supply the help requested and deliver it where it is most needed and listen to the local experts.
Although 700 people died, over 45,000 were saved by boats and helicopters. Half by the Mozambican military and Red Cross and civilian boats, and the others by South African and Malawian helicopters.
A book well worth the modest cost as there are lessons for the more developed nations to learn, and this would be good place to start.