Photo: © Emily Witt/IRIN

Floods have driven thousands of Mozambicans from their homes (file photo).

Maputo — Heavy rains destroyed at least 344 houses in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula in the last ten days of December, according to a report in the Beira daily paper “Diario de Mocambique”.

The victims were residents of Nampula, Monapo, Meconta and Nacaroa districts, where heavy rains and strong winds demolished homes.

Data from the country’s relief agency, the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), indicate that Nampula district suffered the worst effects of the storms, with 201 houses destroyed. 104 homes were lost in Monapo, 36 in Meconta and three in Nacaroa.

The INGC spokesperson in Nampula, Isabel Cavo, said the high winds knocked down 1,533 cashew trees in Meconta. In Nacaroa, Monapo and Malema districts, the roofs were blown off 16 classrooms.

Cavo said that the INGC has sent 60 rolls of plastic to Nampula district to provide covering for temporary shelters for those made homeless. Ten kits containing plastic rolls, hoes, machetes, hammers, nails and wire have been sent to Monapo to help the homeless families there restart their lives.

A further 18 rolls of plastic were sent on Thursday from the INGC’s warehouses in Nampula city to Meconta.