When MSF first met to discuss the impact and implications of the drought in Mozambique, it became clear that the information available on the situation at the district level was subjective and sporadic. Furthermore, it would be necessary to target those districts and populations most in need of assistance. To do so would require an information system capable of providing operationally useful, up-to-date information from the districts. Information, scattered across several publications, was often not produced in a timely manner and was rarely disaggregated to the district level. As a result MSF decided to establish a new information system.