UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 01 July 2008 -- During the winter’s wet season in Southern Africa, close to a million people in Mozambique, Madagascar, Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and eastern South Africa, were driven from their homes by floods, cyclones, and excessive precipitation.

In Mozambique, many displaced people have still not returned to their homes. Throughout the country, tens of thousands of residents had to flee after Cyclone Jokwe and eight people were killed. But the UN is concerned by the continued consequences of the cyclone, nearly four months later.

Walter Kaelin, the Secretary-General’s Representative on the human rights of internally displaced persons, traveled recently to Mozambique, where he spoke with leaders, humanitarian groups, flood victims, and other important actors. He urged more help from international organizations to allow those who had left their homes to obtain appropriate shelter.

He particularly emphasized they should offer aid in getting housing and basic social services. The first priority would be women and children, along with other refuges who are especially weak or susceptible to continued problems if they do not receive the aid they need. Included may be the disabled and people who have HIV/AIDS. Mr. Kaelin has also urged greater government involvement so help reach the best outcome for its population.

Mr. Kaelin praised the humanitarian personnel working with the refugees, he said, “[t]he institutional set-up and the decentralized structure of the governmental actors involved in disaster preparedness, response and recovery is commendable and could serve as a model for other countries.”

He also understood fully and made clear that the task facing relief organizations is a difficult and complex one, telling the international community that, “Relocation to safe areas is both critical and difficult. It is a dilemma between the Government’s duty to protect the life of those displaced and their right to move freely and chose their place of living.”

The ability to obtain work and acquire money to live would be centrally important, Mr. Kaelin indicated, and would let refugees build futures in a new place rather than go back to their former homes in areas vulnerable to further damage from natural disasters.

But Mr. Kaelin also said that, “Relocation of those living in disaster-prone areas to safe areas can increase the security of populations, but should only be resorted to, if there are no other and less intrusive solutions and if it is sustainable.”

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews

 

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