Floods in Mozambique leave dozens of families living in difficult conditions in Niassa

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Floods in Mozambique leave dozens of families living in difficult conditions in Niassa

12:39 CAT | 16 Jun 2016

In the village of Metangula in Niassa province’s Lake District in northern Mozambique, forty families displaced by floods are living in tents in difficult conditions while trying to reorganise their lives.

The families lived in low-lying areas and saw their homes and other property consumed by floods. Despite being resettled on higher ground their situation is dire, but they continue to try to adjust and reorganise their lives.

But it is not easy.

During a recent visit by a DW Africa reporting team to the resettlement area, head of the resettlement centre João Falenza admits that the heat in the tents is a difficulty. “From 9, 10, 11 o’clock in the morning until 5:00 p.m., no-one can enter the tents. The sun heats them up so much it is only possible to go in them from 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.. Even then, it’s hot,” he explains.

Residents of Metangula resettlement centre complain about the heat in the tents

Heat, lack of electrcity and the threat of wildlife

To help solve the problem, the majority of the resettled families has already started manufacturing the cement bricks to build their own houses in the plots allocated to them by the provincial government.

Herita Binaly, one of the women resettled in the area, told DW Africa that families have great difficulty sleeping. The heat is the main problem, but wild animals in the area regularly invade the camp in search of food. Another major problem, Herita says, is the lack of electricity.

Officials say there is no money for more support

Sara Mustafa, the head of Metangula village municipal council, told DW Africa that he is aware of the concerns raised by the flood victims and says that primary assistance has already been given, but rules out the possibility of providing more support because neither the council nor the government have the money.

The centre has begun to manufacture bricks to build homes on plots allocated by the government. “We had a lot of support coming from all over, which has already been distributed to people to build decent houses,” Mustafa says. According to the mayor, a well had also been sunk. All that was now missing was to supply electricity.

Source: Deutsche Welle