SA sends aid to Mozambique
Nozipho Dlamini
27 February 2007South African is to provide assistance to Mozambique after tropical cyclone Favio struck the southern parts of the country last week, the Department of Provincial and Local Government said on the weekend.
The assistance will include helicopters, roof sheeting for the reconstruction of homes, and water treatment plants and tents for displaced people living in temporary accommodation centres.
"We will also provide a liaison officer to be stationed in Maputo for the duration of the relief as well as an assessment team for more detailed planning," said department spokesperson Zandile Ratshitanga.
"We will also provide an extra 170 flying hours for the monitoring of activities in the entire affected area," Ratshitanga said.
South Africa's urban search and rescue team is also on standby, and the government is investigating the possibility of providing mobile water purification units.
Southern Mozambique was hit by tropical cyclone Eline just south of Beira on Thursday morning, and by tropical cyclone Favio a little further south at Vilankulo on Thursday afternoon.
This followed extreme flooding in the Zambezi river basin in the northern part of the country, exacerbated by rains in neighbouring countries.
So far, three people have been reported dead as a result of the cyclone, while around 30 people have lost their lives due to the floods, and about 80 000 Mozambicans have been left homeless.
The Mozambican government has implemented a number of contingency plans to deal with the direct effects of the disaster. The affected areas were evacuated before the cyclone reached land, with homeless people being accommodated in temporary centres.
"We have pledged our solidarity and we are confident that the people of Mozambique will overcome this calamity," Ratshitanga said.
A South African delegation - including Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi and Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad - visited Maputo in the south on Friday, meeting Prime Minister Luisa Diogo, government ministers and the weather services.
About 800 Mozambicans died in floods caused by two cyclones in 2000 and 2001. Since then, the government has overhauled its disaster management system, successfully limiting casualties this time around.
Source: BuaNews
