Cholera kills 72 in Moz

2008-02-19 21:14

Maputo - At least 72 people have died of cholera and other intestinal diseases brought on by floods that have ravaged central Mozambique since the beginning of January, medical staff said on Tuesday.

"Of the 450 cholera patients we have treated in areas affected by the floods, eight have died," global humanitarian organisation Doctors without Borders said.

"This figure is added to the 64 other deaths ... from diarrhoea in the single village of Tete reported by municipal authorities two weeks ago."

According to official figures, the floods have directly claimed ten lives in Mozambique as people drown or are devoured by crocodiles emerging from rising river beds.

More than 100 000 people have been displaced and damage estimated at more than $100m has been caused, while about 250 000 Mozambicans were said to be depending on emergency food aid.

- AFP