Floods: Moz ends rescue ops
2008-02-15 22:48
Maputo - Authorities have ended search and rescue operations in the flooded Zambezi valley, saying on Friday that everyone has been moved to higher ground and fears of more flooding have eased.
The National Institute for Disasters Management said that, after nearly two months of evacuations, the focus would now shift to helping evacuees rebuild their lives in resettlement areas.
The government has rescued 90 000 people from the floods, which killed 20 people. The government's planning is credited with preventing a repeat of the 2001 disaster that killed 800 people.
Mozambique is by far the worst hit of the southern African nations drenched this year by unusually heavy and early seasonal rains. The United Nations says nearly half a million people in the region have been affected.
Earlier this week, the UN appealed for US$89m to help Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe cope with the problems and prepare for further downpours.
Zambian authorities were forced to open the floodgates of the Kariba dam earlier this week, but fears that this would cause more flooding downstream in Mozambique have subsided.
Authorities said Mozambique's Cahora dam was still able to handle extra water from neighbouring countries.
Disaster management deputy director Joao Ribeiro said a few people remained in high risk areas. He described them as "opportunists" who used the rescue boats for lifts to take them to their business of selling foodstuffs in the resettlement centres.
"They then return to the flood plain, pick up more supplies, and demand to be rescued again," he said.
He added that some of the people rescued returned home so that they could be evacuated again and qualify for more government assistance.
"We cannot tolerate this situation any more," he told state radio and television.
- AP