Mozambique: Still stranded in Machaze

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Mozambique: Still stranded in Machaze

8:46 CAT | 11 Feb 2021

Photo: DW

About 5,000 people in the Machaze district, central Mozambique, are still under siege as a result of the rains caused by cyclones Chalane and Eloise. Families need food assistance.

Cyclones Chalane, in December 2020, and Eloise, in late January, devastated Mozambique, leaving a trail of destruction and affecting thousands of families. In the region of Machaze, in the south of Manica province, months of incessant rain caused many rivers to overflow, also interrupting road traffic.

With no staple products coming in, prices rose. Elias Mazinhane, one of the inhabitants still stranded in this district in the town of Mazvissanga, recounts the tragic situation he is currently experiencing.

“We are in a very bad situation here, no traffic is passing, neither is produce arriving. The stalls have sold out, now they have nothing. No sugar, crackers, rice, spaghetti pasta, there is nothing. We are almost surrounded, we are on an island. Not even cars pass through on the way to Zimbabwe,” he says.

More expensive foods

Moisés Filimone, a small trader in Mazvissanga, concedes that the prices of products have increased. According to him, a 25 kg bag of rice costs the equivalent of €16.00. The price of corn flour has also increased, due to scarcity.

“The product that you don’t have is rice and corn flour. One kilogram of corn flour was 45 meticais and now it has gone to 60 meticais because of the road which you cannot use to go buy another product. Rice was at 1,250 and increased to 1,500 meticais,” he explains.

Machazeroad.dw_ — *Roads have been destroyed and potholed in the region*

Airlifted food

The provincial government of Manica has opened an air bridge to supply the Machaze region with essential products, and provincial delegate of the National Institute for Risk and Disaster Management and Reduction (INGD), Augusto Alexandre, says that a “shock intervention” is underway.

“In Machaze district, around 10,000 tons of food goods are positioned. We believe that time will also allow us to continue with the assistance activity, and that assistance will also deserve the intervention of the World Food Program. The government is to do one part and the government’s partners will do a complementary part,” he explains.

The Secretary of State for Manica, Edson Macuácua, promised that those affected by cyclones Chalane and Eloise would get food assistance.

“There are some communities that need urgent support. They are currently isolated in the districts of Machaze, Mossurize and Sussundenga, and need assistance in terms of food needs, which we will provide using boats, and, where necessary, aerial means ,” he said.

Elias Mazinhane, a resident of Mazvissanga, says that the food which arrives is scarce, but goes some way to helping.

“The little we are receiving is better than having nothing. Sometimes it was just washing vegetables, cooking and eating, then sleeping. It was difficult for children and pregnant women to eat like this. Now, we have been given rice and butter beans. The ‘machambas’ [vegetable plots] are covered with water, so you can’t go farming. We’re just sitting at home,” he recounts

Edson Macuácua says the priority for air assistance is the five villages considered most critical in terms of road access.

Source: Deutsche Welle