Mozambique and the Great Flood of 2000

Frances Christie and Joseph Hanlon

Analyzes the effectiveness of Mozambican and international relief efforts.

The devastating rains and floods of early 2000 in southern Mozambique broke all records, killing 700 people, but a remarkable outpouring of domestic and international support saved 50,000 lives and prevented the disaster from turning into a catastrophe. Frances Christie and Joseph Hanlon examine the causes (both natural and human-made) of the floods and the nature of the relief effort. Asking what went right, what went wrong, and what lessons might be learned from this case, they find that the relief effort was largely a success of international cooperation.

Mozambique and the Great Flood of 2000 probes the effectiveness of various forms of aid, the extent of cooperation among agencies and governments, the amount of money raised through international public appeals, the use of relief funds, and the effectiveness of initial efforts at reconstruction. Documenting the experience of the floods, the authors provide important insights for future emergency planning and management in Mozambique and elsewhere.

Frances Christie is a Mozambique-based journalist with many years of experience working with the Mozambican and United Nations disaster response systems.

Joseph Hanlon is a writer and former journalist for New Scientist. This is his fifth book on Mozambique.

African Issues—Alex de Waal and Stephen Ellis, series editors
Published in association with the International African Institute, London
Sales territory is exclusive North America (including Canada); open market in the rest of world except mainland Europe and traditional Commonwealth market outside of Canada.
June 2001
176 pages, 24 b&w illus., 3 maps, append., notes, index, 6 x 9
cloth 0-253-33978-2 $49.95 L
paper 0-253-21473-4 $22.95 s