Million Dollars For Immediate Post Flood Measures
Maputo, 15 Feb (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Tuesday announced the immediate disbursement of 10 million US dollars for post-flood reconstruction activities.
Nyusi was addressing the nation on the floods crisis, after overflying the worst affected áreas, in the Umbeluzi and Incomati river basins, in Manhica, Boane, Magude, Namaacha and Moamba districts, all in Maputo province.
The number of people affected by the storms and flooding in Maputo city and province, is now put at over 39,000. 306 schools were affected, some so badly that they cannot function at all. As a result 118,000 pupils are unable to study.
11 schools have been turned into temporary accommodation centres for flood victims.
The storms knocked down electricity pylons, and swamped transformer posts. 18,500 electricity consumers were plunged into darkness.
As for agriculture, 6,645 hectares of assorted crops were inundated, affecting about 30,000 households.
Nyusi said the government hás drawn up a “Joint Response Plan” to provide food for over 53,000 people in the next seven days. Clean drinking water will also be provided.
The government hás decided to place technical brigades of the National Roads Administration (ANE) at key positions, with the task of ensuring basic conditions so that traffic can keep moving along the roads.
“We shall carry out a survey of the damage and losses”, said Nyusi, “in order to repair the affected infrastructures, and normalise the water supply”.
The government will distribute seeds to the households affected by the floods so that they can plant for the second sowings of this agricultural year. Access to credit for commercial farmers is being negotiated with the banks.
Duly identified residents of the worst hit area, the municipality of Boane, will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in public transport fare for the next three months.
(AIM)
Dt/pf
