Mozambique - Since October 2015, an El Niño-induced drought has affected the southern Africa region. In Mozambique, this has resulted in severe water shortages in the south and central provinces of the country, with a deterioration of the situation in the first quarter of 2016.

In Maputo province alone, IOM estimates that over 5,300 families are facing difficulty gaining access to water for their personal needs and some 123,960 people are already in a food insecurity situation.

Following a request from the Maputo Provincial Delegation of the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) and the Provincial Water Department, IOM – with funding from OFDA-USAID – has been carrying out emergency water distribution to support government response efforts. Limited local water trucking capacity means that families only receive an average of 7.5 liters daily.

IOM, in coordination with INGC and other government partners, has been targeting seven highly vulnerable communities in Moamba district – one of the worst affected districts in the province.

In recent weeks, IOM has distributed over two million liters of potable water to reach 4,333 people, specifically in Sabié administrative post (Malengane, Matucanhane, Suduine and Macaene), Pessene administrative post (Vundissa) and Ressano Garcia administrative post (Chanculo and Mubobo).

It has also installed 12 individual 5,000-liter tanks to help 1,000 families cope with the effects of the drought. Over 70 percent of the families have already received a 100-liter tank and two 20-liter jerry cans. The distribution process will conclude this week.

The project is part of a resilience-building process that IOM is working with INGC to achieve. In addition to the distribution of tanks and jerry cans, it includes training in water purification, verification and measurement of water quality and water conservation awareness.

For further information please contact Manuel Marques Pereira at IOM Mozambique, Tel: +258 866 450 317, Email: mpereira@iom.int