All the women said they watched the rains flood their fields, and the fields are their only source of income for the year. Then they watched their goats and cattle drown. President Chissano and the United Nations say that R80-million is needed for emergency food and medical supplies, and to provide basic shelters for the homeless. A further R220-million will be required to rebuild the infrastructure, government officials say. Britain and other EU countries have already sent more than R10-million in emergency aid, and a UK disaster management team is being provided.
Aid workers say the greatest danger now is from waterborne diseases and malaria.
South African and French air force planes resumed aid flights yesterday but the collapse of a bridge between the capital, Maputo, and the town of Xai-Xai further hampered relief efforts. Mozambican officials say in private that South Africa is compounding the misery by easing pressure on its dams through the release of surplus water into the Limpopo river which flows on through Mozambique. After leaving Mozambique, Eline weakened, but still brought heavy rains as it moved on to Zimbabwe.