Southern Africa: Red Cross battles rains

Southern Africa: Floods DREF Operation No. MDR63001
ReliefWeb (press release) - Geneva,Switzerland
The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters ...rains in the western side of the region is causing additional localised and heavy flooding in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Heavy rains and storms have also affected households in Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland. According to the governments, Red Cross National Societies and other and other stakeholders, approximately 68,650 people have been affected and the floods have also damaged crops, livestock and infrastructure ... The heavy rainfall recorded in Southern Africa region since the first half of December 2007 and the start of 2008 has caused rivers to swell, in particular the Zambezi River which flows through Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Pungwe, Save and Buzi rivers in Mozambique. As a result of these rains Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been severely affected by localized floods, while Lesotho and Swaziland are currently affected by hailstorms. The heavy rains have reportedly resulted in the deaths of 21 people ... Malawi is also experiencing above normal heavy rains throughout the country. With the season still in the early stages, further heavy rains are expected ...