Aid workers fear that thousands more dead will be found in Mozambique, once waters have receded. Among presidents attending the Southern African Development Community summit in the Mozambique capital Maputo, Malawi's Bakili Muluzi heaped fresh criticism on the West for responding too slowly to the crisis. But South Africa's Thabo Mbeki was more cautious, saying delays happened but the message was also late. Botswana's Festus Mogae told reporters the floods had exposed the vulnerability of African economies. Have your say Mail the editor Aid efforts continued at a hectic pace on Tuesday with fleets of transport planes and helicopters taking to the skies, although three US heavy-lift choppers were out of service for maintenance, a US army spokesman said.
Road transport is far cheaper and allows for more food and material to be carried in a single trip.
In Chokwe, north of Maputo, people began returning to their homes, pulling sodden carpets and furnishings out into the sun to dry as they tried to work out how to rebuild their lives. They are also concerned about getting hold of seeds to plant, which they must do in the next few weeks if they are to reap this year's harvest. But the government and international aid teams are reluctant to let people return yet, saying they're worried about health conditions and the possibility of a disease epidemic. Mozambique has identified 492 people killed by the floods, and says at least 330,000 have been left homeless or displaced. The government says 141 schools are destroyed and 40,000 head of cattle dead.