Maputo, July 8 (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Meteorology Institute (INAM) has revealed that the country is facing funds shortage to address El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to cause severe drought in the country’s southern and central regions.
In order to address funds shortage, the body calls for mobilization of financial resources to support preparedness and mitigation of the phenomenon.
According to Adérito Aramuge, INAM Director-General, speaking at the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Technical Council for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (CTGRD), the most vulnerable districts to the phenomenon’s effects are especially the semi-arid zones in the central and southern regions.
Aramuge explained that the El Niño results from the abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which alters atmospheric circulation and influences weather patterns across various regions of the world, including Mozambique.
He added that the country has until October to strengthen preparedness measures and reduce the phenomenon’s potential impacts. However, he did not mention the needed amount to address the phenomenon.
“Niño phenomenon occurrence could reduce rainfall in the country’s central and southern regions while increasing rainfall in the north. Mobilizing funds is essential for implementing these actions. Each sector has a role to play to ensure no Mozambican is caught off guard”, he said.
According to Aramuge, the country’s national monitoring system consists of three phases: readiness, implementation, and action, “allowing for the tracking of the phenomenon’s evolution and the activation of anticipatory response measures.”
He added that, in addition to the priority districts, another 36 districts are included in the national anticipatory action program, benefiting from preventive measures designed to reduce risks to the population.
For his part, José Matsinhe, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), advocated for a food security assessment in at-risk areas as “the greatest impacts of El Niño are expected to be felt next year. Therefore, monitoring and response actions must cover the medium and long terms.”
Matsinhe also deemed it necessary to strengthen strategies for building community resilience, going beyond the distribution of drought-tolerant seeds, a measure commonly used in response to cyclical crises.
Mr/Am/
