Isolated areas of the district of Pebane experienced flooding as a result of heavy rainfall in early 2015. In February, the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) worked with local government to create two relocation communities in the administrative post of Naburi to house families that lost their homes to the floods. These two communities, Mutuluma and Namurro, currently contain 236 displaced families who have begun to build new homes and lives within the sites.
The internally displaced persons (IDPs) have displayed a strong intention to remain permanently in the relocation communities and have demonstrated this desire by organizing among themselves to create site management committees and to begin the construction of new homes. Indeed, the majority of IDPs in the district of Pebane live in either recently constructed durable structures or in makeshift shelter while they are in the process of a more permanent solution.
The population of Mutuluma and Namurro totals 1,163 individuals and is relatively young with 63% of residents below the age of 18. The most common daily occupation is subsistence-level farming while fishing activities also play an important role in the lives and sustenance of many families. IDPs rely on agricultural activities and purchased food to meet their nutritional needs, yet buying food remains a challenge as neither site has access to a market within close proximity.
Water access is a point of concern since families in both sites walk over 20 minutes to reach the nearest water source. Further, due to a lack of alternatives, IDPs are forced to retrieve water for consumption from rivers and ponds. Construction of private latrines continues to be a work in progress for members of the community; less than half of families have a latrine at their home. Finally, malaria is a worry for IDPs in Pebane as it was noted as the most prevalent health problem in both sites. Displaced families in the relocation community of Namurro reported that not a single family possesses a mosquito net, while those in Mutuluma stated that less than 25% of families possess a net.
Both sites displayed strong positive signs in terms of education as children have access to school within both communities and the adults in Namurro benefit from an adult education program