Maputo — Nobody should imagine that the flood disaster in the Zambezi valley is over just because the rains have stopped, warned Mozambique's Minister of State Administration, Lucas Chomera, on Thursday.

Opening a meeting organised by the country's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), on post-disaster resettlement and reconstruction in the valleys of the Zambezi and Save rivers, Chomera criticized the common trend to concentrate on the emergency phase of a disaster but to neglect the subsequent reconstruction.

"Why don't we show the same commitment and dedication in reconstruction as we did during the emergency phase?" he asked.

"In April, when it stops raining, we go away and think the disaster is over", Chomera said. "But there are 52,000 families out in the open. The disaster hasn't finished for them. Their suffering is continuing".

Chomera wanted to see humanitarian agencies involved in all stages of disaster management - from prevention and mitigation, through the physical rescue of people trapped by rising waters, to the resettlement of victims in safe areas. "The initial solidarity we had during the emergency should be extended", he urged. "Humanitarian aid does not end when the rains end. We have to guarantee the resettlement - otherwise people will return to the flood prone areas, and in January or February 2009 we will find ourselves rescuing the same people again".

Chomera made clear that this message was for Mozambicans and for foreign donors alike. He was sure that there were resources that had not been tapped, for instance, among religious organisations or among private businesses. He suggested there were "businessmen of good will" who would be willing to donate building materials so that flood victims could build permanent homes in the resettlement areas.

There was no way that the full costs of resettlement could be borne by the state budget. Chomera said the government was providing 71 million meticais (almost three million US dollars) - which would be enough for 2,000 brick houses.

The government could provide assistance and training, but it was the flood victims themselves that would have to build their new homes. He admitted that there were difficulties in areas where people had no experience of making bricks. "How do we ensure that this knowledge is truly transferred, and does not just stay in the hands of a few artisans?", Chomera asked.

Each resettlement area needed to be planned properly as a small town, with a street plan "not just on paper, but in reality", the Minister stressed.

For achieving this, "the main resource are the people themselves", he said. "Are they all occupied? Are we using them properly? What do they do before the start of planting? Are we using young volunteers? Can food-for-work schemes help here?"

Chomera made clear he did not have ready made answers, but these were issues the two day meeting should address. The meeting brings together INGC officials, resettlement staff, district administrators from the flood affected areas, and representatives of the INGC's Mozambican and foreign partners.

The reconstruction plan covers the period up to 2010, and aims to ensure that all resettled families will live in a brick house. Currently the great majority of the flood victims are still living in tents or in flimsy huts.

An INGC document puts the total number of houses needed at 58,778. As of the end of March, 828 had been completed and 970 were under construction. But the resettlement areas also need 165 water sources, 112 classrooms and 11 health units.

Chomera told reporters that the government is seriously concerned that, unless these issues are vigorously addressed, flood victims may be tempted to return to the vulnerable areas on the Zambezi flood plain.