Maputo — Mozambique's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), is installing delegations in all river basins prone to flooding, reports Monday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".

The INGC's National Director for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ana Cristina, said that these delegations will also function as Emergency Operational Commissions (COEs). They will be set up in the so-called "response districts" that currently house forecasting centres as part of the country's early warning system.

"The idea is to create basin delegations and COEs that will manage all disaster situations in those regions", said Cristina. "The response districts will have more operational Disaster Management Technical Councils (CTGC) in order to ensure more effective coordination between these districts and others along the basins, allowing an improved flow of information".

In the specific case of the Buzi basin in central Mozambique, which has one of the most successful early warning systems, Cristina said the basin delegation will be set up in Buzi district, in Sofala province, while in the Save basin the delegation will be installed either in Govuro, in Inhambane, or in Machanga, in Sofala. Both districts have been hit regularly by severe flooding.

Cristina added that the INGC is setting up a new early warning system for the Licungo basin in Zambezia province, and the delegation will be located in Maganja da Costa district.

This is being financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for a budget that has not yet been specified.