Maputo, 12 Apr (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Roads Administration (ANE) needs 690 million meticais (10.7 million dollars at the current exchange rate) for the emergency repair of roads damaged by the torrential rains that hit southern Mozambique, especially Maputo province and city, in late March
The amount required, according to the ANE Delegate in Maputo, Nurbina Noormahomed, speaking at an Emergency Operational Committee Meeting, cited by Radio Mozambique, is only for interventions in the roads of Maputo province.
“These are the Maragra/Kalanga, Maragra/Machubo roads in Marracuene district and the Salamanga/Catuane road in Matutuine, which are currently impassable over a length of 130 kilometres”, she said.
Noormahomed explained that, at the moment, the sector is looking for 64 million meticais for palliative interventions to allow vehicles to circulate, pending the definitive repair of the sections affected by the storms.
According to the Mozambican relief agency, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGD), at least nine people have died as a result of the torrential rains (which reached 300 millimeters in 48 hours) that hit Maputo city and province on 24-25 March.
The situation was worsened by further rains that fell on 7-8 April.
The rains damaged around 265 kilometers of roads and flooded 20,023 houses. The rains completely destroyed 99 houses and damaged a further 173.
The storms also affected 63 schools, destroying 113 classrooms, as well as 61 health centers and around 13,584 hectares of various crops.
(AIM)
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