/ 20 February 2001

THOUSANDS FLEE FLOODS IN MOZAMBIQUE

INHABITANTS of central Mozambique were urged to flee to high ground on Monday as another river threatened to burst its banks under heavy rain. Thousands of people have already fled their homes due to recent flooding, and the World Food Programme said the region was on further alert as the Save River rose after weekend rains. WFP programme officer Inyene Udoyene said there were fears that the Save could burst its banks as rain lashed the region. Mozambique is already battling floods in the central Zambezi valley after several rivers burst their banks, displacing more than 30_000 people. Devastating floods in February and March last year killed at least 700 people and made 500_000 homeless, prompting one of the largest aid and rescue missions in southern Africa. – Reuters