Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique
Abstract In January 2022, the Mozambique Red Cross provided non-food items to people who were forecasted to be impacted by flooding from the tropical storm Ana in the district of Mocuba, Zambezia province, Mozambique. This was an activation of their anticipatory action protocol, an innovative mechan...
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| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-024-00162-9 |
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| author | Meizal Popat Komal Rathod Luis Artur Erin Coughlan de Perez Akriti Sharma Noah Beca Carolyn Van Sant |
| author_facet | Meizal Popat Komal Rathod Luis Artur Erin Coughlan de Perez Akriti Sharma Noah Beca Carolyn Van Sant |
| author_sort | Meizal Popat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In January 2022, the Mozambique Red Cross provided non-food items to people who were forecasted to be impacted by flooding from the tropical storm Ana in the district of Mocuba, Zambezia province, Mozambique. This was an activation of their anticipatory action protocol, an innovative mechanism for forecast-based action. While anticipatory action is growing rapidly around the world, there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of different anticipatory actions across hazards. In this study, we compare reported health outcomes and asset losses from a survey of beneficiaries of an anticipatory action program in Mozambique, implemented by the Mozambique Red Cross. Given the short warning time, Mozambique Red Cross was able to provide non-food items, namely early warning messages, buckets, cups, mosquito nets, soaps, and COVID-19 masks to 855 number of people 24h before the flooding occurred. Using propensity score matching, we did not find statistically significant differences in health outcomes loss of assets or personal documents during the flood event, between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries (comparison group). The lack of observable statistical differences between the groups could be due to either the late timing of intervention or a lack of tangible utility of the non-food items for the intended objectives. Our findings suggest that early warning and action need to be backed by proper and timely logistical and organizational investments and tailored to local contexts if they are to bear significant results. Further investment in anticipatory action systems should ensure that actors have the infrastructure and personnel ready to act quickly enough based on the forecast. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-503f5c7ec4e94fa2bf50806af49de6f4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2364-3404 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
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| series | Journal of International Humanitarian Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-503f5c7ec4e94fa2bf50806af49de6f42025-08-20T02:43:33ZengSpringerOpenJournal of International Humanitarian Action2364-34042024-12-019111210.1186/s41018-024-00162-9Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, MozambiqueMeizal Popat0Komal Rathod1Luis Artur2Erin Coughlan de Perez3Akriti Sharma4Noah Beca5Carolyn Van Sant6University Eduardo MondlaneTufts UniversityUniversity Eduardo MondlaneTufts UniversityTufts UniversityUniversity Eduardo MondlaneTufts UniversityAbstract In January 2022, the Mozambique Red Cross provided non-food items to people who were forecasted to be impacted by flooding from the tropical storm Ana in the district of Mocuba, Zambezia province, Mozambique. This was an activation of their anticipatory action protocol, an innovative mechanism for forecast-based action. While anticipatory action is growing rapidly around the world, there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of different anticipatory actions across hazards. In this study, we compare reported health outcomes and asset losses from a survey of beneficiaries of an anticipatory action program in Mozambique, implemented by the Mozambique Red Cross. Given the short warning time, Mozambique Red Cross was able to provide non-food items, namely early warning messages, buckets, cups, mosquito nets, soaps, and COVID-19 masks to 855 number of people 24h before the flooding occurred. Using propensity score matching, we did not find statistically significant differences in health outcomes loss of assets or personal documents during the flood event, between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries (comparison group). The lack of observable statistical differences between the groups could be due to either the late timing of intervention or a lack of tangible utility of the non-food items for the intended objectives. Our findings suggest that early warning and action need to be backed by proper and timely logistical and organizational investments and tailored to local contexts if they are to bear significant results. Further investment in anticipatory action systems should ensure that actors have the infrastructure and personnel ready to act quickly enough based on the forecast.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-024-00162-9Anticipatory actionsImpactStorm AnaFloodMozambique |
| spellingShingle | Meizal Popat Komal Rathod Luis Artur Erin Coughlan de Perez Akriti Sharma Noah Beca Carolyn Van Sant Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique Journal of International Humanitarian Action Anticipatory actions Impact Storm Ana Flood Mozambique |
| title | Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique |
| title_full | Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique |
| title_fullStr | Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique |
| title_short | Anticipatory actions: lessons from the storm Ana in Mocuba district, Mozambique |
| title_sort | anticipatory actions lessons from the storm ana in mocuba district mozambique |
| topic | Anticipatory actions Impact Storm Ana Flood Mozambique |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-024-00162-9 |
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