Maputo — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has 200,000 US dollars immediately available to support the victims of tropical depression "Delfina" which struck the Mozambican provinces of Nampula and Zambezia earlier this month.

The deputy director of the WFP office in Maputo, Georg- Friedrich Heymell, told AIM on Friday that this aid is taking the form of foodstuffs and logistics. The food will be transported to the coastal districts of Nampula and Zambezia, which were the area worst hit by the storm. As from Friday, 20 tonnes of food provided by the WFP are being carried by a helicopter hired by the Mozambican government to the places most in need and which cannot be reached by road.

Heymell noted that the poor state of the roads is one of the main obstacles to relief operations.

"We know that the priority for those affected is chlorine to purify water supplies, because of the fear of cholera outbreaks, as well as tarpaulins, and seeds for replanting", Heymell said.

"But in our opinion we must carefully verify the needs of those affected so as not to disperse our efforts".

He added that the WFP is studying the possibility of assisting in the repair of the railway line between the port of Nacala and Malawi. The line was severely damaged at Mutivaze, some 30 kilometres west of Nampula city. WFP logistical staff are looking at the damaged railway.

Repairing the railway is important for WFP operations in neighbouring Malawi, where millions of people are at risk of hunger. Currently some 6,000 tonnes of WFP maize intended for Malawi is stuck in Nacala port.