Maputo — Humanitarian assistance for the victims of tropical depression "Delfina", which struck the northern Mozambican province of Nampula earlier this month, will now be moved by road, since the helicopter hired in South Africa a week ago has returned.

The critical moment of the emergency seems to be over, and roads cut by the torrential rains are being re-opened. According to Rogerio Manguele, information officer for the country's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), cited in Saturday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias", people are gradually resuming their normal lives, and it is possible to move goods by road across much of the province.

The road from Nampula to Cuamba, in the neighbouring province of Niassa, is scheduled to be reopened next Wednesday.

This should end Niassa's isolation from the rest of the country.

Since 5 January, it has been impossible to reach Niassa either by road or by rail (except by taking a huge detour through Malawi).

Deputy Education Minister Telmina Pereira, who has been visiting Nampula to assess the impact of the early January stoms on the province's schools, on Friday promised support for schools that suffered damage.

Many schools in Nampula began this term late, and Pereira said the central government would provide support for their teachers so that they would be able to recover the lost time. The government would provide materials to rebuild damaged schools, but it would not prolong this first term of the academic year. The National Water Board (DNA) warns that further rains that fell on Wednesday and Thursday have raised the levels of the rivers Licungo in Zambezia province, and Revubue in Tete. The DNA is warning the public to stay away from areas near the river banks liable to flooding.

However, if there is no further rain the levels of the two rivers are expected to fall over this weekend.