OVERVIEW

Tropical Depression Dando made landfall over the coast of Mozambique in southern Africa earlier last week. Dando is the first storm to hit this part of Mozambique since the infamous Tropical Storm Domoina in 1984, according to the UK Met Office.   Tropical cyclone Dando hit southern Mozambique and flooded the homes of approximately 247 families in Maputo city and Matola.  Dando caused serious damage in Gaza affecting 2,640 houses and 169 schools. Schools were also affected in Inhambane province, in the district of Zavala (ChildFund operating area) where over 81 class rooms (including a dormitory for more than 200 female students) were damaged.

In Zavala, the majority of the schools were partially destroyed (roof and walls of the classrooms ripped off), education materials like books and administrative files soaked in water. The roof of the health post ripped off, the health staff house were destroyed. The food crops and cash crops were extensively destroyed as well as fruit trees. The roads were blocked and phones were cut off and there were frequent electricity cuts. Due to the flooding  Maputo was temporally  cut off from the other parts of the country including Zavala following the washing away of a section of the main road (National Road #1) linking the Northern and Southern parts of the country.  However, the governmental department of public house has restored the communication between south and north fixing the section affected.

In Northern Mozambique, Zambezia and Cabo Delgado tropical storm Funso made landfall unleashing heavy rains. It is reported that 16 people were killed and over 1500 hectares of various crops were lost.

At United Nations level, a technical committee of disaster management (CTGC) composed of Government of Mozambique and members of the humanitarian country team (HCT) gathered together last week to evaluate the impact of the current rainy and cyclone season.  As a preparedness measure, the CTGC declared an Orange alert to ensure that all emergency actors were ready to intervene.  At national level, the national Institute of disaster management (INGC) also activated its operations in coordination with other humanitarian organization operating in Mozambique. At provincial level, and particularly at district level (Zavala) the local emergency committee was activated and ChildFund is represented in this committee by the area office staff.

OVERVIEW OF CHILDFUND RESPONSE

In response to this situation, ChildFund conducted a rapid assessment in Zavala district. ChildFund also provided logistic support to Zavala district government emergency committee during the assessment exercise conducted by the government jointly with ChildFund and other stakeholders.  A concept paper was developed and approved in order to respond to the calamity in Zavala district. The main areas of response are: Education, Health, and Food security.

Many people, including children, are in shock and confused about the situation. ChildFund recognizes that children in emergency situations need a safe space in which to play and reestablish a sense of normalcy. “Child-centered spaces provide psychosocial support for children who have been affected by emergencies,” said Mark Anthony Dasco, acting country director in the Philippines. “They also provide a safe, physical space for children to gather in an unstable environment.”

John, a 13-year-old staying at the West City Central evacuation center said, “It was so frightening. First, the water was at knee level. It then rose very quickly to my waist and then neck level. I almost drowned. Good that my father was able to get hold of me.”

John says about ChildFund’s child-centered space “I play with other children and I can forget about what has happened.”

ChildFund is also providing emergency relief to 2,000 children and families in Cagayan de Oro, one of the worst-hit areas. Families are receiving bottled water, food items and hygiene kits.

ChildFund is raising funds to open more child-centered spaces to reach out to more children. “ChildFund is working to protect children and help them recover from this stressful experience,” said Dasco. “We will continuously support the families and communities as they recover from this disaster.”

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With the new app-game from ChildFund, ”Squish the Mosquito,” families can contribute to the fight against malaria while having fun. By merging entertainment, learning and fundraising into one unit— a game – ChildFund hopes to increase awareness of malaria in Denmark and to raise money for assisting children and their families world-wide.

Fun to Give
”Fundraising, these years, is radically changing. And one of the new trends is what has been called funraising. In Childfund, we focus in the health of children world-wide, and because of that, raising money in a fun way that involves our own children makes great sense,” says Marianne Schou Delkus, Head of Communication in ChildFund Denmark.

Fun to Learn
The purpose of ”Squish the Mosquito” is to squish mosquitos in a rapidly increasing pace to prevent them from biting the young African girl, Elisa and her family. The game is inspired by reality and uses situations where mosquitos are active, e.g. when cooking at dusk or when Elisa is getting water from the pond.

”First of all, ‘Squish the Mosquito’ is fun to play. But at the same time we have chosen to include an element of learning. This is why the game is based on real situations. The app, however, is first and foremost a fun game and it is made with passion and great care for the children who are meant to play it,” says Marianne Schou Delkus.

Malaria is a Huge Problem
Every year, millions of people are affected by malaria. In 2008, malaria was the cause of 20% of all child deaths– that is one child dying every 45 seconds due to malaria. And though malaria is decreasing in some parts of Africa, help is still needed world-wide. Malaria is both preventable and treatable. All it takes is medicine, and, before that, awareness.

Info
The new app is available at Apple’s AppStore for the price of 2$.
Find more information about the game and malaria at www.squish-the-mosquito.com.

Contact
Head of communication Marianne Schou Delkus, msd@bornefonden.dk, phone (0045) 26739128
Childfund Denmark – Jagtvej 157 – 2200 Copenhagen