Maputo, Mozambique — The Mozambican government Wednesday launched an emergency appeal for international assistance for the victims of flooding in the four central provinces of Zambezia, Tete, Manica and Sofala.

The floods have killed at least 41 people.

Addressing a meeting of donor representatives in Maputo, Foreign Minister Leonardo Simao put the number of people affected by the floods at 390,000.

Some 70,000 of these have been displaced from their homes, he said, adding that the known death toll now stands at 41.

He said the worsening of the situation along major river valleys in the centre of the country over the weekend meant that the government could no longer cope with the situation using the existing resources.

Simao said the government was therefore appealing to the international community for further means of transport (to supplement the seven aircraft and 200 boats already active in rescue and relief operations) and the funds to acquire and deliver food and other relief goods.

Preliminary figures provided by the government indicate that 36.5 million US dollars is needed from donors. This is for all emergency requirements except food: the amount of food aid required has not yet been assessed.