Mozambique: IDPs from Cabo Delgado allocated land plots, tents in Savane, Sofala

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: IDPs from Cabo Delgado allocated land plots, tents in Savane, Sofala

2:47 CAT | 09 Nov 2020

Photo: O País

In the last two months, terrorism has forced 180 people – 32 families – to flee from the district of Mocímboa da Praia, in Cabo Delgado province, to the city of Beira, in Sofala.

The authorities in Sofala have started distributing plots of land for housing in Savane, Dondo district.

Mocímboa da Praia is about 1,500 kilometres from the city on the Chiveve river.

Fleeing terrorism, these families sought refuge with relatives and friends, and were being hosted in various Beira neighbourhoods.

Some tiny homes were accommodating more than 15 people, surviving on support from the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) and well-wishers.

The distribution of land plots in Savane, Dondo district started last weekend, with the INGC providing tents to help families get started in their new home.

At the age of 65, Pira Sumail fled Mocímboa da Praia with his wife and three children. Starting over has been difficult for him, but “the most important [thing]” is simply being alive. “We are alive, with our strength and health. We will start again, and rebuild our future,” he says.

“Our biggest wish is to have a home, but we don’t have the money for that. We’ll live in these tents until a solution is found. We want implements for farming; we cannot live forever dependent on the government. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask the government to find solutions and end the massacres in Mocímboa da Praia,” Sumail said.

Maria Zuca, another internally displaced person from Mocímboa da Praia, is keen to see some improvement in sanitation and support for the construction of houses.

“The government has given us land and tents. Very well, but we decry the poor sanitation conditions. We don’t have toilets, and there are more than 180 of us. This situation could prompt the emergence of disease, so we think it is urgent that they provide toilets or help us build them. We are here indefinitely; my family and I do not intend to return to Cabo Delgado, so we have to create minimum conditions for survival, including food,” Maria says.

Teixeira Almeida, INGC delegate in Sofala, agrees that the IDPs in Savane deserve better sanitation.

“Actually, at the moment, the question of sanitation in the 32 plots has not yet been taken care of. The process depends on the support of partners, but we decided to proceed with the allocation of plots because these families were living more than 15 persons in small appartments,” Almeida says.

“In Savane, each family has its own plot and tent,” Almeida explains. For now, “the toilets will be shared with the people who already live there [those affected by Cyclone Idai]. As for food, we recently distributed food and more – enough for 30 days.”

Source: O País