Red Cross National Societies from around the world have pooled resources to help people suffering severe floods across southern Africa. More than 334,000 people are currently affected by floods in southern Africa due to unseasonal heavy rains since December.Mozambique, Malawi and Namibia are worst affected, but countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and parts of Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana have also experienced heavy rains or tornadoes.

"Further heavy rains are expected and, in addition to increasing humanitarian needs, the longer-term effect of the flooding on crops and food security is becoming a real concern in some areas," said Françoise Le Goff, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is co-ordinating the relief operation.

Relief from around the world

Relief items have been donated from Red Cross Societies around the world. The Belgian Flanders Red Cross, for example, has contributed water purification tablets to prevent water-borne illnesses; the Finnish Red Cross has sent mosquito nets; and the French Red Cross has contributed tarpaulins for shelter among other items.

The British Red Cross plans to send money raised from the appeal it launched in January to the Federation and is continuing to urge the public to dig deep. The Federation's appeal aims to help more than 154,000 people for six months.

"Funds are urgently needed to support the emergency relief operation and to provide shelter to those who have been made homeless due to the floods," said Rachid Boumnijel, from the British Red Cross relief team. "As we are still in the rainy season there is concern that flooding will continue."

More frequent floods in southern Africa

Food and other basic emergency items such as tents and blankets are being distributed and more latrines are being built. Red Cross volunteers working within local communities in all affected countries are also stepping up health, education and disaster awareness campaigns. One thousand volunteers will also be trained on health promotion in all the affected countries.

Françoise added: "We also need to put more resources into disaster preparedness activities. We know that a major humanitarian crisis has been avoided so far thanks to the early-warning system and evacuation of local communities conducted by Red Cross volunteers in flood-prone areas and we need to further strengthen those programmes all the more since the pattern of floods across southern Africa has become more frequent and unpredictable."