UK fire and rescue services to assist relief efforts in Mozambique following devastating floods

The UK’s International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team, made up of fire and rescue service personnel, has been deployed to Mozambique to assist with the flood rescue response to devastating flooding caused by extreme rainfall.

Following the Government of Mozambique’s declaration of a national emergency and request for international assistance, the UK Government is supporting the deployment of the UK ISAR team – accompanied by a medical team – to the country. An initial forward party of seven flood rescue specialists was deployed on Tuesday 20 January to assess conditions on the ground and coordinate with local authorities and humanitarian partners. This was followed today (Friday 23 January) by the arrival of a further 29 personnel from UK fire and rescue services, along with four boats, to support rescue and response efforts led by the Mozambican government.

The teams will commence operations in Maputo province and in Xai-Xai, north of the flood area, today. This includes efforts to rescue people trapped by floodwater.

Weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding in Mozambique have caused widespread damage to infrastructure and multiple media reports suggest that the death toll has now exceeded 100. It is estimated that up to seven hundred thousand people have been affected by the floods, with some reports estimating that over half of those affected are children, with many hundreds of people trapped by rising floodwaters.

Local and international authorities report that the floods have caused major damage to health facilities and roads, with nearly 5,000 kilometres of roads damaged across nine provinces.

National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair, Phil Garrigan, said:

“The thoughts of the UK fire and rescue service are with all those affected by the devastating flooding in Mozambique and parts of neighbouring South Africa.

“Around the world, communities are increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change and more frequent and severe extreme weather events, which place enormous pressure on local response and rescue capabilities.

“Following a request for international assistance, specially trained firefighters from across the UK are being deployed to support the response on the ground, bringing vital specialist flood and water rescue skills.

“Our teams will work closely with local authorities and international partners to support rescue efforts and help protect lives during these extremely challenging conditions.”

The impact has also been severe in South Africa, with media reports indicating that more than 30 people have died in the recent flooding. In response to the worsening situation, Mozambique has declared a red alert, while South Africa has announced a national disaster.

Authorities have also warned that Mozambique is now entering into its annual cyclone season, creating the risk of a double crisis. Conditions are expected to remain challenging in the coming weeks.

The UK has previously supported Mozambique in response to severe flooding. During the devastating floods of 2000, ISAR capabilities were deployed with support from the UK Government, with UK fire and rescue teams and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) specialists delivering water rescue operations using inflatable boats and lifesaving equipment.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The UK ISAR team https://www.ukisar.org/ responds primarily to overseas urban or flood search and rescue emergencies on behalf of the UK and are all trained to use specialist kit, including flood rescue boats and drones. They are sponsored and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
• Flooding events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe and this investment in flood rescue is part of the FCDO’s effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and is used to train national teams in high-risk countries to be better prepared to respond themselves in future.
• The team is drawn from 14 UK fire and rescue services and are trained to operate in complex and high-risk environments overseas, providing specialist search and rescue capability in response to major international emergencies.
• Alongside the permanent International Search and Rescue Capability team, comprised of officers seconded to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, the UK ISAR team deployed to Mozambique has been drawn from the following fire and rescue services:
  • Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
  • Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service
  • Kent Fire and Rescue Service
  • Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
  • London Fire Brigade
  • Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
  • South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
  • West Midlands Fire Service
• The deployment also includes members of the UMT medical team.
• Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is the lead authority for UK ISAR.
• Any UK ISAR team deployed is self-sufficient upon arrival and provides its own food, water, shelter, sanitation, communications and all necessary equipment to undertake search and rescue operations for up to 14 days. This is to ensure no additional burden is placed on a country already suffering demands on its resources following a sudden onset disaster.
• Previous deployments include Morocco, Turkey, Algeria, Pakistan, India, Iran, Mozambique, Indonesia, Haiti, New Zealand, Japan, Bosnia, Nepal, and Malawi.
• The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is a charity and an independent membership association and the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. UK ISAR is part of NFCC’s National Resilience function.
• Information about the number of people impacted can be found via the INGD – Instituto Nacional de Gestão de Desastres (National Institute of Disaster Management) website, here, and from the United Nations, here. A UNICEF report citing that more than half of those said to be affected by the floods are children can be found here.
• UNICEF warnings of a double crisis brought about by Mozambique entering its cyclone season can be found here.
• Images from UK ISAR can be provided on request.