/ 8 March 2000

FLOOD CRISIS MOUNTS IN MADAGASCAR

TROPICAL cyclone Gloria and Eline have killed 130 in Madagascar, and left thousands homeless. Gloria, which hit Madagascar last weekend, killed at least 66 while Eline killed 64 mid-February, authorities said. The UN has warned that Madagascar could be next in line for international aid on the scale being received by Mozambique. The thousands left homeless have been cut off in isolated villages, making it impossible to bring aid or communicate easily to get reliable casualty figures. Authorities said on Tuesday that more than 500000 people are now desperately in need of food aid.