from ARMANDO DOMINGOS in Maputo, Mozambique
Mozambique Bureau
MAPUTO, (CAJ News) – MORE than 100 people are dead after heavy rainfall pounded Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
This tragedy is linked to climate change, with Southern Africa among the most affected by the phenomenon.
Mozambique is the epicentre of the inclement weather, which is affecting mainly the southern and the central provinces since December 24.
This is causing widespread floods that have resulted in an increasing humanitarian impact.
The worst affected provinces are Gaza, Inhambane, the capital Maputo and Sofala.
As of January 19, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGD) reports 43 fatalities, 28 injured people, approximately 68 600 currently evacuated people in 77 accommodation centres and a total of nearly 610 000 affected people across the country.
In addition, INGD also reports 3 231 destroyed houses and around 78 000 damaged houses countrywide.
Humanitarian organisations are currently responding to the crisis.
Moreover, very heavy rainfall since early January caused severe floods across neighbouring South Africa and Zimbabwe.
In South Africa, the death toll reached 30 fatalities since late December.
The worst affected provinces are Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
In Zimbabwe, 70 fatalities have been reported across Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Midlands provinces.
– CAJ News