Voter registration in Mozambique postponed to April 15

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Voter registration in Mozambique postponed to April 15

3:29 CAT | 28 Mar 2019

in file CoM

The Mozambican government is to postpone the start of voter registration from April 1 to 15 in response to the consequences of Cyclone Idai, a spokeswoman for the Council of Ministers has announced.

“The government has approved a decree changing the electoral registration period,” Ana Comoana said. Instead of running from April 1 to May 15, voter registration for this year’s general election will be held between April 15 and May 30.

General elections in Mozambique are scheduled for October 15. Besides electing parliamentary deputies and the president, Mozambicans will elect 11 provincial governors, who will for the first time no longer be appointed by the central government.

The change is part of the agreement between the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) government and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the country’s main opposition party.

One of the worst natural disasters in Africa

Cyclone Idai’s passage through Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi caused at least 786 deaths and affected 2.9 million people across the three countries, according to United Nations agencies. Mozambique was the worst affected, with 468 dead and 1,522 wounded already counted by the Mozambican authorities, and more than 127,000 people living in 154 shelters, especially in Beira, the worst-hit region.

Cyclone Idai is one of the worst natural disasters in African history, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday. Mozambican officials said the cyclone affected about 800,000 people in Mozambique, but the United Nations estimates that 1.8 million need urgent humanitarian assistance.

Mozambican authorities say more than 90,000 homes were damaged, of which 50,619 were totally destroyed, 24,556 partially destroyed and 15,784 flooded. In addition, 3,202 classrooms were damaged or destroyed, affecting 90,756 students, and 52 health units. Almost 500,000 hectares of land were flooded.

Red Cross manages field hospital in Beira

The Canadian Red Cross is setting up an emergency field hospital in Beira with 25 staff members, including doctors, nurses and technicians. The facility will “provide urgent care to communities devastated by tropical cyclone Idai”.

The team left Ottawa on board a cargo Boeing 747 with three Land Cruisers (which will provide mobile health care) and 53 tonnes of medical equipment, and arrived in Mozambique on Wednesday.

The hospital will have a surgical center, a maternity ward and consultation rooms. The unit will see an estimated 200 patients per day and provide first aid, surgical operations, life support and night care for about 50 patients, services for children and even psychological support.

“Unfortunately, we know that some of the greatest mental health challenges still need to be overcome. The Canadian Red Cross, supported by its partners, will provide vital medical support to alleviate the tremendous pressure that has been placed on local services, including nurses and doctors who have been working non-stop on urgent care,” Canadian Red Cross Director of Operations Chiran Livera said.

Source: Source: DW