Floods displace over 1,000 in Nova Mambone

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Floods displace over 1,000 in Nova Mambone

8:26 CAT | 23 Jan 2017

CoM (file photo)

Over a thousand people in the town of Nova Mambone, capital of Govuro district, in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane, have been displaced from their homes because of flooding on the Save river.

The torrential rains falling in the Save basin, both in Mozambique and in Zimbabwe, have swollen the river dramatically.

Victims of the floods told reporters that the Save burst its banks on Thursday night, and the water poured into the Nova Mambone neighborhood of Mussassa.

The river rose so rapidly that the residents had no chance to save their possessions, but fled in search of shelter on higher ground.

The government relief agency, the National Disaster Management Institute, says that about 6,000 people could be affected by the Save flood. INGC staff have been trying to persuade people to leave their homes now threatened by the river.

Two centres were opened to accommodate those displaced. But even the INGC misjudged the rise of the river since the centre opened in Genda neighbourhood had to be abandoned, for it too was swamped by the rising waters. The people taken there had to be moved to the second centre, at Doane.

People who had accepted the advice to leave the areas at risk of flooding and go to the accommodation centres are now complaining that there is not enough food for them in the centres.

INGC general director Joao Machatine told reporters that the INGC is making efforts to provide basic supplies to the displaced families. He urged those residents of Govuru living in safe areas to show solidarity with the flood victims and complement the government’s efforts.

“We are all called upon to cooperate”, said Machatine. “Our solidarity is being put to the test. We think this year will be no exception to the rule, and we are counting on the good will of our fellow countrymen”.

The flood is likely to worsen. Cited by Radio Mozambique, the director of the Save Basin Management Unit, Daisy dos Santos, said that in the next 48 hours over 50 millimeters of rain is expected to fall in the basin. Areas which have not yet been affected could be inundated during the weekend.

Source: AIM