Thousands remain cut-off by flood waters. More than 70 people have been killed. The provinces most affected by the floods are Maputo, Gaza, and the northern part of Inhambane. This downpour came on top of seasonal flooding and has been compounded by Tropical Storm Eline, which swept in from the Indian Ocean. Heavy rainfall in neighbouring South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland further exacerbated the situation as rivers in these countries feed reservoirs in Mozambique.
Food is the most pressing problem at present.
Damage to roads and bridges means that many people cannot be reached. They are dependent on food dropped by helicopter. In urban areas, food prices are rising rapidly and poorest people may soon be threatened by serious food shortages. When 16 years of civil war came to an end in 1992, Mozambique began to rebuild its economy and infrastructure. The country was soon a success story - last year, Mozambique had the fastest growing economy in the world.