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'We have nothing left'
26/02/2007 09:08 - (SA)
Cobus Coetzee
Vilanculos, Mozambique - "We have nothing left. And we have to share that with everybody."
That was how Dirk Rootman, a South African who owns a workshop in Vilanculos, described the devastation caused by cyclone Favio, which hit the coastal town in Mozambique's Inhambane province on Thursday.
The top floor of his three-storey house in the town collapsed after a strong wind ripped the thatched roof apart.
About 300 South Africans live in Vilanculos, but none of them were seriously injured. Claims to the value of R77m have been submitted by South African holiday resorts, said Rootman. Many of these resorts were flattened on Thursday.
"I was in Maputo when the cyclone hit our town, and was in contact with my wife (Sharon van Wyk) throughout. Every time the signal was lost, it felt like ages while I became more and more concerned on the other side," he said.
The Rootman's house is situated on the 50km-wide coastal strip that suffered most damage, according to the Mozambican authorities, who fear the Mozambican islands could have suffered even more damage, especially along their eastern coastlines.
Thousands homeless
"The cyclone caused more devastation than initially feared. Roads are impassable, water and electricity have been cut and everybody was affected by Favio," said Casmiro Abreu, regional director for the Mozambican national crisis management foundation (INGC).
An estimated 80% of the 40 000 residents in the area surrounding Vilanculos were left homeless, and many were injured.
"The stomach of one of our workers was ripped open by a piece of corrugated iron. I took him to hospital, but the car just wouldn't move. The wind kept pushing us back," said Van Wyk.
According to INGC, the worst wind (up to 260km/h) and rain were recorded between 11:30 and 15:00 on Thursday.
At least five people died, including two children.
"We are battling to treat all the people. We don't have enough space, staff or supplies," said Abreu. Humanitarian aid started streaming in from South Africa at the weekend.
SA providing emergency aid
South Africa will provide helicopters, tents, building materials and temporary water purification plants as part of its emergency aid, reports Danel Blaauw.
A ministerial delegation from South Africa met with Mozambique's Prime Minister, Louisa Diogo, to determine the extent of the damage, as well as the people's immediate needs.
Damage was estimated at about R7bn, as infrastructure such as hospitals, prisons, business premises, holiday resorts and thousand of homes were reduced to rubble. The delegation said food parcels would be delivered to temporary housing centres.
"An additional 170 flight hours will be made available to monitor activities in the disaster area," said the South African delegation.
Aid group Gift of the Givers said it would leave for Vilanculos on Tuesday, with three cargo planes carrying 27 tons of emergency supplies.
The medical team that will be accompanying them will establish a field hospital as soon as possible, conditions permitting, said spokesperson Mohammed Soolima.
He added that building material, water purification agents and medical supplies were desperately needed.
- Media24 Africa
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