Sunshine has returned to the skies of Maputo, capital of Mozambique, after torrential rains that have brought the worst flooding in half a century to the east African nation. But the country is bracing for the approach of cyclone Eline, which already has done substantial damage to the Indian Ocean nation of Madagascar.
The Christian Council of Mozambique has joined the Mozambican government in an international appeal for assistance to help the estimated 100,000 people driven from their homes. With many water purification systems under water or without power, the threat of diarrhea, cholera and skin diseases from contaminated water is high. Floods also increase the incidence of malaria, by providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Cooking fuel and other essentials also are in short supply.
Repairs of damage in the city of Maputo alone will require an estimated $15 million. This amount does not include the cost of repairs to bridges and roads. The main highway to the north of Maputo remains closed, as do the major routes south to neighboring South Africa and Swaziland. Across the border, the Kruger National Park has experienced the most destructive flooding in its history.
The industrial suburb of Matola, outside the capital, whose factories have helped spur the economic growth Mozambique has experienced over the past year, has suffered extensive damage, and the rail line to the harbor was swept away in places.
Around the country, bridges, roads, houses and businesses have been affected. In the normally semi-arid province of Inhambane in central Mozambique, the rains that began in January are still falling. With more rain expected across the region, South Africa has warned that the waters of the Limpopo and Incomati Rivers, which flow to Mozambique, will continue to rise.
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At the top of the government's wish list are inflatable dinghies to use for rescues of people still trapped without food or clean water, as well as life buoys, life jackets, tents and tarps. Donations have been arriving, including $100,000 from Norway, $800,000 in cash and supplies from Britain, equipment from Italy, and $160,000 worth of medicine as an initial donation from Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund. Unicef and the British government have also sent disaster management experts to help the government and private organizations coordinate rescue and relief operations. The United States contributed an initial $25,000 for immediate use.
Last week on an official visit to Mozambique, the Norwegian Prime Minister promised additional aid, as well as support for the complete cancellation of Mozambique's foreign debt. The country, one of the poorest in the world and long ravaged by wars fomented by outside powers, had the world's highest rate of economic growth in 1999. Relief officials say outside help is urgently needed if that fragile recovery is not to be reversed by the flood's toll.
