Just In: President of Mozambique cuts short eSwatini visit to respond to Cyclone Idai, heads straight to Beira

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Just In: President of Mozambique cuts short eSwatini visit to respond to Cyclone Idai, heads straight to Beira

10:00 CAT | 17 Mar 2019

Photo: Facebook / Presidente Filipe Nyusi

President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, will visit the central areas of the country affected by Cyclone Idai on Sunday and Monday (March 17 and 18), his office announced yesterday.

The head of state has decided to cut short an official visit to neighbouring eSwatini (former Swaziland), and is flying back directly to the city of Beira, the most destroyed by the storm.

Beira airport is expected to be up and running again on Sunday, after it was rendered inoperative by the damage caused on Thursday night.

During his stay in the centre of the country, the Mozambican Head of State will successively visit the city of Beira and the districts of Dondo and Nhamatanda in Sofala province; the districts of Chinde, Inhassunge and Maganja da Costa in Zambézia province; the city of Tete and the districts of Moatize and Changara in Tete province; and the city of Chimoio in the province of Manica, where Filipe Nyusi will interact with the population affected by the catastrophe.

The Minister of Public Works and Housing, João Machatine, the governors of the provinces of Sofala, Alberto Ricardo Mondlane, Zambézia, Abdul Razak, Tete, Paulo Auade, Manica, Manuel Rodrigues Alberto, the INGC Director, Augusta Maita, staff of the Presidency of the Republic and other State institutions will accompany the Mozambican president during his visit.

The death toll from cyclone Idai in central Mozambique rose to 48, according to a provisional balance sheet updated by the Mozambican authorities on Saturday.

The United Nations estimates that there are now 600,000 people affected in the centre and north since the beginning of March, either because they have been left without home, food or other property or because they have lost access to farmland and basic services.

Presidente moçambicano Filipe #Nyusi encurta visita ao reino de Eswatini para poder visitar a região centro de #Mocambique afectada pelo #CycloneIdai pic.twitter.com/Yet1QsfJDL

— Alexandre (@AllexandreMZ) March 16, 2019

.@UN teams have arrived on the ground in #Beira where #CycloneIdai has left a trail of devastation, cutting off electricity and communications, destroying homes, medical facilities and crops.

Please donate to our emergency appeal: https://t.co/QfNPoZyczu pic.twitter.com/AYtf5vYZ8z

— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) March 16, 2019