Floods in Mozambique leave thousands homeless
POSTED: February 16, 2007
By Staci Dennis
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The National Institute for Disaster Management estimates that more than 300,000 people could be displaced due to the flooding.
OBI and Humedica are currently en route to the flooded areas to assess the needs and offer aid. A mobile medical clinic will be set up upon arrival for primary health care.
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MOZAMBIQUE, Africa - Tens of thousands of people in central Mozambique have been forced to flee to higher ground due to recent flooding from torrential rains.
Mozambique, located in the southern tip of Africa, has a notorious past for severe flooding during the rainy season, however, this year has been particularly bad.
During the last few days, the situation has deteriorated and the National Water Directorate has advised people to move to higher ground. Already more than 60,000 people have evacuated.
The announcement for people to leave their homes came on the heels of an estimate released by The National Institute for Disaster Management saying that more than 300,000 people could be displaced due to the flooding.
Flooding has already destroyed homes, possessions and crops – which will contribute to a lack of food in the coming months. Initial reports indicate thousands of people are living in camps with no shelter or essential items.
Operation Blessing International and German partner, Humedica, are currently en route to the flooded areas to assess the needs and offer aid. Teams are traveling to a remote village called Caia, which is close to the mouth of the Zambezi River.
A mobile clinic will be set up upon their arrival for primary health care. Materials such as tarps, blankets and hygiene items are currently being gathered to give out to the displaced people.
"Initial reports indicate no other non-governmental organizations are serving these people," said OBI's assistant director of international programs, David Darg, about the remote village of Caia. "They are really suffering."
A total of 86,000 people have been rescued from swamped areas, including 2,607 rescued Thursday in the central provinces of Manica, Sofala and Zambezia, and in the western Tete. The floods have killed about 30 people in Mozambique and forced the Zambezi River to burst its banks.
The National Disasters Management Office also made an urgent call for more than 3,000 tents to shelter victims in 29 safe areas, now holding about 26,000 people.
Thousands more are still waiting for temporary shelter, said Paulo Zucula, director of National Disasters Management.
AP contributed to this report.
How You Can Help
You can take part in helping Mozambique's displaced citizens and other victims of disaster by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief programs. With your support, OBI can continue to provide food, medical care and more to thousands of hurting people.
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