• Mozambique is on the Mozambique is on the East coast of Africa, East coast of Africa, bordering South bordering South Africa, Zimbabwe, Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and United Malawi and United Republic of Tanzania.Republic of Tanzania.

• The population is The population is around 20 million and around 20 million and is still growing.is still growing.

• The capital Maputo was flooded, The capital Maputo was flooded, as was the road between the as was the road between the capital and the second largest capital and the second largest city, Beira. city, Beira.

• On 22 February, tropical Cyclone On 22 February, tropical Cyclone Eline hit the Mozambique coast Eline hit the Mozambique coast near Beira. near Beira.

• On February 27, flash floods On February 27, flash floods inundated low farmlands around inundated low farmlands around Chokwe and Xai-Xai. Chokwe and Xai-Xai.

• South Africa, Botswana and South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland were also badly Swaziland were also badly affected. affected.

Worst affected area

• The floods started on 9 The floods started on 9 February with heavy rainfall February with heavy rainfall across Southern Africa.across Southern Africa.

• In early 2000 a cyclone In early 2000 a cyclone swept across southern Africa swept across southern Africa leading to three weeks of leading to three weeks of severe floods which severe floods which devastated Mozambique.devastated Mozambique.

• On 22 February, the full force of On 22 February, the full force of tropical Cyclone Eline hit the tropical Cyclone Eline hit the Mozambique coast near the Mozambique coast near the central city of Beira . Winds central city of Beira . Winds measure 260km/h (160 mph).measure 260km/h (160 mph).

• Heavy rainfall and swollen rivers Heavy rainfall and swollen rivers in the rest of southern Africa in the rest of southern Africa brought more water into brought more water into Mozambique. There was severe Mozambique. There was severe flood damage when the swollen flood damage when the swollen Limpopo River burst its banks. Limpopo River burst its banks.

• By 2 March, floodwater levels By 2 March, floodwater levels had risen from four to eight had risen from four to eight metres (more than 26 feet) in metres (more than 26 feet) in five days.five days.

• Hundreds of thousands of people were Hundreds of thousands of people were made homeless in Mozambique's made homeless in Mozambique's worst flooding in 50 years. worst flooding in 50 years.

• In the capital Maputo tens of In the capital Maputo tens of thousands of people were forced to thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. The worst hit were flee their homes. The worst hit were people living in makeshift homes in people living in makeshift homes in the slums around the capital. the slums around the capital.

• Further north, hundreds of thousands of Further north, hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless in Gaza province.people were left homeless in Gaza province.

• Roads, homes, bridges and crops were Roads, homes, bridges and crops were destroyed. Electricity supplies were destroyed. Electricity supplies were disrupted and towns left without clean disrupted and towns left without clean water supplies after their pumping stations water supplies after their pumping stations were swept away. were swept away.

• Flooding in Sofala made Mozambique's Flooding in Sofala made Mozambique's main north-south road impassable, cutting main north-south road impassable, cutting transport links between the capital and the transport links between the capital and the second city, Beira. second city, Beira.

• United Nations officials said the lives of United Nations officials said the lives of 150,000 people were in immediate danger 150,000 people were in immediate danger from lack of food and disease. from lack of food and disease. Many families in the Limpopo Valley north of Many families in the Limpopo Valley north of Maputo were hit by outbreaks of dysentery.Maputo were hit by outbreaks of dysentery.

• By 22 February some 23,000 people had lost By 22 February some 23,000 people had lost everything. everything.

• By 2 March, aid workers estimated 100,000 By 2 March, aid workers estimated 100,000 people needed to be evacuated and around people needed to be evacuated and around 7,000 were trapped in trees. 7,000 were trapped in trees.

• It could take years to rebuild the It could take years to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by a tropical cyclone infrastructure damaged by a tropical cyclone and three weeks of severe floods. and three weeks of severe floods.

• $13m was needed for urgent relief supplies $13m was needed for urgent relief supplies and the government asked for more than and the government asked for more than $65m to help rebuild the country's roads, $65m to help rebuild the country's roads, bridges and power supplies. bridges and power supplies.

• By 3 March, The international community By 3 March, The international community began to send in relief workers and began to send in relief workers and helicopters. helicopters.

• Alison Woodhead of the Disasters Alison Woodhead of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), said the top Emergency Committee (DEC), said the top priority was providing clean water. priority was providing clean water.

• Relief agencies distributed hygiene kits, Relief agencies distributed hygiene kits, including oral rehydration salts and including oral rehydration salts and antibiotics, and collapsible water tanks, antibiotics, and collapsible water tanks, which could be mounted on lorries and which could be mounted on lorries and driven to affected areas.driven to affected areas.

• Save the Children reunited families Save the Children reunited families separated in the floods.separated in the floods.

•More trees were planted in order to soak up more water before it reaches

the river.•The river channel was deepened in

order to increase the volume of water that the river could hold

• Embankments and flood barriers/walls were built as this too would increase the capacity of the

river.

•In May, international donors meeting in Rome promised Mozambique nearly $453m to help rebuild the economy and infrastructure - $3m more than the Mozambique Government had requested.•There were thousands of people stuck in trees but the military could only help a fraction of these people•An early warning system was introduced