Mozambique: Malaria kills 270 in five months, over 6M cases
Screen grab: TVM
As the Mozambican authorities prepare for the return of the population to the town of Palma, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, following the expulsion of the terrorists who attacked the town on 24 March, one of the most difficult problems is to count the dead.
Initial indications are that the jihadists murdered a large number of people, with government spokespersons speaking of “dozens” dead. One Palma resident, who returned to the town last Friday, told reporters that he knew of 87 deaths.
According to a report in Friday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”, 80 of these victims were Mozambicans, and seven were whites, presumed to be foreigners. These seven are probably the same seven people killed when terrorists ambushed a convoy attempting to carry people to safety from the besieged Amarula Hotel on 26 March.
The 87 mentioned by this source may be in addition to the 12 bodies which the Mozambican defence and security forces buried near the hotel. The police spokesperson in charge of the burial described the bodies as white, and believed they were foreigners. He said they had been beheaded.
However, no embassies have reported any of their citizens as missing. One South African was killed, but his body was recovered and returned to South Africa.
The 12 bodies were in an advanced stage of decomposition when they were buried, and decaying bodies could change colour in the Cabo Delgado heat. It is thus quite possible that the 12 are, in reality, Mozambicans. But there can be no certainty about their identity until a forensic team arrives in Palma and disinters the bodies.
Also read: Mozambique: Forensic team needs to be mobilised to identify corpses in Palma – TVM
“Mediafax” also claims that the task force appointed by President Filipe Nyusi to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado consists of seven ministers and one secretary of state. The task force was set up at a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) on Tuesday, but was not made public at the time.
“Mediafax” sys it has obtained the list of members, and they are Defence Minister Jaime Neto, Interior Minister Amade Miquidade, Education Minister Carmelita Namashalua, Agriculture Minister Celso Correia, Health Minister Armindo Tiago, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Carlos Mesquita, the Minister of State Administration, Ana Comoana, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Employment, Oswaldo Petersburgo.
Watch the TVM report on the bodies found and buried outside the Aamarula.
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