Cyclone battered Mozambique now teams up with AU insurer

ARC Director General Mohamed Beavogui (left) and Mozambique's Economy and Finance Minister Adriano Afonso Maleiane during one of the discussions leading to the signing of the MoU. PHOTO | COURTESY | ARC

What you need to know:

  • Mozambique has recently faced two deadly cyclones that battered the country, flattened houses and left a trail of deaths.
  • Mozambique has had a drought or strong storm at least every four years, with flooding.
  • ARC said it will help provide both mid-term and long-term solutions against recurrent extreme weather conditions.

Cyclone-battered Mozambique is turning to the African Union’s insurance agency to profile its risks and help it avert more losses.

The African Risk Capacity (ARC) agency, a specialised organ of the continental bloc, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mozambican government, seeking ways to prepare the country for future disasters.

Under the arrangement, ARC will help government officials through training and frequent surveys on the risks the country is exposed to, especially as it faces frequent natural disasters.

The agency said the MoU will define terms and conditions for cooperation to “address the impact of extreme climate events” in Mozambique. This will include training of government officials and other efforts.

DEADLY CYCLONES

Mozambique has recently faced two deadly cyclones that battered the country, flattened houses and left a trail of deaths.

Coming just two months apart, the storms, cyclones Idai and Kenneth, left a destruction that some estimates say may require USD2 billion (Sh200 billion) to rebuild.

The country was forced to take a USD118m (ShSh1.18 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund after Idai hit Mozambique, killing at least 900 people.

ARC said it will help provide both mid-term and long-term solutions against recurrent extreme weather conditions like floods, drought and storms.

Mozambique has had a drought or strong storm at least every four years, with flooding.

LONGEST COASTLINE

And despite having one of Africa’s longest coastlines, frequent storms mean the government has to divert monies to repair damages every four years.

The arrangement though, may not cure immediate needs such as resettling displaced victims of the floods and treating ailments arising from the cyclones.

Mr Mohamed Beavogui, the Director-General of ARC, said his agency will help Mozambique establish a clear picture of its ability to rise from such extreme weather conditions “and develop customised response plans.”

“The ARC approach allows for the risks to be managed in a way that multiplies the benefits from limited resources available to government,” he said.

The idea, he said, is to prevent losses “at the early stage of a disaster…before the arrival of humanitarian assistance.”