EVARISTO CUMBANE, Maputo | Thursday
RELIEF operations in flood-stricken central Mozambique are being seriously hampered by water-swamped roads, leaving many regions accessible only by air, say harassed disaster officials.
“As the situation worsens all along the Zambezi valley, we are gradually coming under pressure, particularly in terms of transport,” said Joao Zamissa, representative for the National Disaster Management Institute.
Air transport is the only way to reach many areas, because floodwaters have left many roads impassable, Zamissa said.
“Many places along the valley have become islands, and some have completely disappeared,” he warned. “We are basically working with only two helicopters – one provided by the army and one civilian – a South African C-130 (plane), and some navy and civilian boats.”
The official death toll from the floods stands at 15, with five more missing, Zamissa said. At least three emergency shelters have been set up so far in the worst affected district of Mutarara, on the Zambezi, he said.
Shelters in Mutarara town and the administrative posts of Inhagoma and Baue housed about 1_000 people by Monday.
Many other people were staying with friends or relatives, but still needed emergency assistance, he said. About 25_000 people are in need of emergency assistance from Tete to the coastal Zambezia Province, Zamissa said.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned the situation was becoming more serious than expected but still not near the scope of last year’s floods, which claimed more than 700 lives in the southern African state.
“The contingency plan has worked well, but we are before a situation which has gone beyond expectations,” WFP reporting officer Inyene Udoyen said.
The WFP is still assessing the exact needs in the region, but the loss of road access was making the assessment teams’ movement difficult, he said.
“It is hard to get information from isolated spots,” he said. – AFP
ZA*NOW
Mozambicans take to the trees again February 14, 2001
New flood threat for battered Mozambique December 31, 2000
Flood-damage hampers aid delivery March 15, 2000
Plans take shape for Mozambique’s recovery March 14, 2000
South African pilots heroes of Mozambican floods March 8, 2000
Link to stories on the recent flooding in southern Africa March 2, 2000