The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
Pictured above, families are still living in one of the camps that was set up after the Mozambique floods in January.Mali: After the outbreak of the conflict in northern Mali, thousands of people were displaced within the country while others sought refuge in neighbouring countries. By the beginning of March, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) estimated that more than 260,000 people are displaced in Mali, while more than 170,000 have fled to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. With the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), and partner National Societies, the Mali Red Cross is providing assistance. However, most families who have made it safely into southern Mali are now being hosted by other families who were already overwhelmed. Some houses have up to five families in them, meaning that the food that the Mali Red Cross is providing as assistance, is not sufficient.
Mozambique: In January 2013, floods tore through southern Mozambique, affecting close to 250,000; displacing more than 175,000 people in Gaza province alone. They were the worst floods to hit the country since the 2000 floods when more than 900 people died. Six weeks after floods tore through southern Mozambique, people are still living in camps without adequate shelter or assistance. The majority have since returned to their villages to pick up the pieces of their damaged lives, but in Chaqualene, the largest camp, 6,000 remain, unable to leave. The government is offering flood affected people free land outside the flood zone for rebuilding, however many are left with no money, leaving them in no position to return home and rebuild.