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Uhuru deploys KDF to Mozambique
1:46 CAT | 01 Apr 2019
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel, among them drivers and medical staff, providing support in Mozambique in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. Photo: Twitter / @kdfinfo
The government of Kenya has sent humanitarian assistance to Mozambique following the devastating Cyclone Idai storm which left properties destroyed, thousands homeless and hundreds of people dead.
The much needed humanitarian assistance was provided through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) amid an ongoing search and rescue operation in Mozambique and other African countries that were also hit by the tropical cyclone.
In a statement issued on Saturday, March 30, the KDF noted it had dispatched to Mozambique a team of personnel, including drivers and medical staff, and necessary resources to support in terms of search and rescue.
“The government of Kenya, through Kenya Defence Forces, offers humanitarian assistance to the government and people of Mozambique in dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. KDF has provided personnel and relevant resources to aid in urban search and rescue, medical staff and drivers,” the KDF tweeted.
The Government of Kenya, through Kenya Defence Forces, offers humanitarian assistance to the Government & people of Mozambique in dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. KDF has provided personnel & relevant resources to aid in urban search & rescue, medical staff & drivers. pic.twitter.com/BDb00oZ6VP
— Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) 30 March 2019
Kenya’s offer to support victims of the natural disaster comes about two weeks after the Tanzanian government also responded to the distress calls in the affected southern Africa countries.
Beside Mozambique, where the devastating tropical cyclone is said to had originated from, the other countries that were hard hit were Zimbabwe and Malawi.
President John Pombe Magufuli’s government flagged off 200 tonnes of maize , 24 tonnes of medicine and 17 tonnes of rice to go towards supporting the three disaster-ravaged African countries where many were left without food or shelter.
Heard yesterday how massive this destruction was and zilch on the news. But it’s Africa that’s effected so hey where’s #MozambiqueFloods2019 1.7 million in cyclone Adai path or #MalawiFloods2019 920,000 or #Zimbabwe? U.N World Food Programme gave no figures for Zim. Huge disaster
— Sedwith (@whosunktheboat) 20 March 2019
The cyclone Idai first hit land close to Beira, Mozambique’s fourth largest city, then gradually moved inland, leaving behind a trail of destruction and rendering several rural homes and villages inaccessible.
Hundreds of villages were submerged and bodies could reportedly be seen floating in the mighty floods described by experts as one of the worst disasters ever witnessed in the region.
The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme senior spokesperson, Herve Verhoosel, said close to two million people were likely to be affected by the cyclone in Mozambique and Malawi alone as shown by satellite images of the hit regions.
By Jacob Onyango
Source: Tuko Kenya
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