JOHANNESBURG, 18 January 2008 (IRIN) - A more effective early warning response and better cooperation between governments in southern Africa has led to a dramatically reduced death toll during the seasonal flooding, according to the UN regional humanitarian coordination office.

The situation in Mozambique remains critical, as rains continue to fall, but whereas flooding in 2002 "killed hundreds, and in 2007 dozens, in 2008 only three people have died so far," said Kelly David, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for southern Africa.

Floodwaters have displaced 57,000 people and are still rising but the government has responded to the crisis with an evacuation plan, prepositioned relief supplies and assistance to affected people, and is confident it can cope at the moment.

Heavy rains in neighbouring Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi are flowing into Mozambique's river systems, which are above flood levels along the Zambezi, Save and Limpopo. The UN said Localised flooding in the three countries had displaced over 11,000 people.

Contingency planning by nine countries in the region in 2007meant they were much better prepared for the floods. There has been far greater cooperation between governments in managing the river system water levels, and local authorities have proved effective in their response. "Lessons have been learnt; governments have prepositioned tents and non-food items, and there is a sense of pride that we can manage ourselves," said David.

Paulo Zucula, the director of Mozambique's Natural Disasters Institute (INGC), has stressed that despite media reports claiming 50 deaths and hyping the crisis, the situation was at the moment under control.

"Our intention is to avoid making an international appeal ... If we do that, it will be because we have exhausted all our local possibilities, and it is too early to say that," he was quoted as saying.

"Unfortunately, there are some organisations that live off emergencies," Zucula added, "but internationally it is generally accepted that it is better to prevent than to cure. And that is our strategy."

Mozambique is not out of the woods yet. It is still relatively early in the rainy season, and Zucula warned that if the rising waters of the Limpopo and Licungo rivers led to flooding in those river basins, "then we could see worse floods than in 2000. However, with the plans that are being put into effect, we believe that the impact in terms of human lives will be much less."

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