CONTEXT
1. Category 4 tropical cyclone 'Jokwe' hit the coastal areas of Mozambique on 9 March, 2008, with winds of up to 170 km/h and torrential rains. 'Jokwe' is the 12th cyclone to develop in the Indian Ocean so far. Its arrival topped records for the highest number of cyclones in one season, possibly in a decade according to meteorologists.
2. The border between Namibia and Angola, in the area of the Cunene and Cuvelai River basins has received higher than average precipitation, while the rest of southern Africa has remained moderate with areas of central and southern Mozambique experiencing drier conditions, except for the northern areas experiencing heavy rains and windstorms in the last week due to arrival of Tropical Cyclone 'Jokwe'(1). Heavy rains have moved over northern Zambia where national authorities do not exclude the possibility of a second wave of flooding.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), southern Angola and northern Namibia will continue to experience heavy rains as will parts of southern Malawi. Tropical cyclone 'Jokwe' is expected to bring more rains over the southern parts of Mozambique and Madagascar.
3. According to the latest figures from national disaster authorities, the cumulative number of people affected by rains and floods since October 2007 in Southern Africa, including those affected by tropical cyclones in Madagascar, has reached 927,710.
Note:
(1) Reference is made to the 12 March 2008 Tropical Rain Monitoring Mission precipitation and anomalies map at trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/trmm_rain/Events/thirty_day.html
Contact details:
Andrea Recchia,
Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Johannesburg),
+27 11 517 1624
Alfred Nabeta
Desk Officer (Geneva),
+41 22 917 2732
Mette Tangen,
Desk Officer (New York),
+1 917 367 3001
Elizabeth Byrs,
Press contact (Geneva),
+41 22 917 2653
Stephanie Bunker,
Press contact (New York),
+1 917 367 5126
