Mozambique: Mayor of Beira warns of city’s vulnerability

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Mozambique: Mayor of Beira warns of city’s vulnerability

3:36 CAT | 21 Aug 2020

Photo: Conselho Municipal da Beira / Facebook page

The mayor of Beira in central Mozambique has warned of the city’s vulnerability to climate change, recalling the impacts of cyclone Idai, when the city marks the 113th anniversary.

“Beira is a vulnerable city and subject to climate change. Both Idai and the other precipitation phenomena that affected the city clearly showed its vulnerability,” said Daviz Simango.

He was speaking in the province of Sofala during a press conference convened on the 113th anniversary of Beira’s elevation to the category of city.

The mayor said the construction of infrastructure for water drainage is one of the main challenges of the city and it is expected that by the end of the first half of 2021 the tenders for the works will be launched.

“There is a study of models [for the runoff] that we have done and thus we know exactly where the vulnerable areas are, where there is more flooding and where there are greater risks,” he said.

He also said that there is a fund of €60 million, provided by the World Bank and the Dutch government, for the construction of infrastructure, to reduce the vulnerability of Beira.

“We intend to ensure that the city has as many basins as possible,” he said.

Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique in March 2019, claimed 604 lives, and the city of Beira, one of the country’s main cities, was severely affected.

Shortly after that, in April, the north was affected by Cyclone Kenneth, which killed 45 people and affected another 250,000.

Source: Lusa