A cyclone called #Dineo tore Inhambane apart – Mozambique

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A cyclone called #Dineo tore Inhambane apart – Mozambique

2:12 CAT | 20 Feb 2017

O País

Devastating. That’s the only way to describe tropical cyclone Dineo, which rocked Inhambane province on Thursday and Friday. The winds were merciless and battered everything in their path. Homes, electric poles, publicity panels and billboards, everything. Much of the public infrastructure, mainly education and health, has been partially or totally destroyed. As a result, 1,687 classrooms were damaged, affecting a total of 160,000 students and 5,500 teachers, and 70 health units were destroyed in twelve districts.

In all, 652,684 people were affected, corresponding to 130,538 families, in the districts of Funhalouro, Homoíne, Inharrime, Jangamo, Mabote, Massinga, Morrumbene, Panda, Vilankulo, Zavala, Inhambane and Maxixe.

The cyclone also devastated 29,173 hectares of maize, nhemba beans, cassava, vegetable plantions and fruit trees, a situation catastrophic to the hopes of the population.

The provincial government has announced that, with the support of the National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC), the process of assisting the most vulnerable families has begun.

The seriousness of the situation has left families needing support of every kind; what took years to build disappeared from one day to the next.

Maxixe – Inhambane City crossing affected by Dineo

The wharf on the Maxixe side of the crossing fell victim to tropical storm Dineo and collapsed. As a consequence, boats cannot dock there properly, causing passengers difficulties. In order not to run aground, the boats can only get to about a metre from the landing. From there, young people who see an opportunity to make money step into the breach, carrying passengers ashore by brute strength. And because the demand is great, so is the price – 10 meticais, or the same as the crossing itself.

But if, on the one hand, the crisis has become an opportunity for these young men – mostly seamen who have lost their boats – on the other, to the users it represents a loss because their costs have increased.

Source: O País