SA sending 150 tons of food to Moz
2013-01-31 17:14
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2013-01-30 09:13
Families are fleeing to higher ground as floods engulf entire villages in Mozambique. Watch.WATCH
Johannesburg - The SANDF and the charity, Gift of the Givers, will deliver over 150 tons of food to flood-stricken Mozambique.
"This deployment also includes primary health care nurses, dieticians and environmental health officers to assess the needs of the people and where necessary to identify special dietary needs," SA National Defence Force spokesperson Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said on Thursday.
More than 150 000 people had been displaced by floods in the country.
Mabanga said the Gift of the Givers had already collected and tagged donations, and was expected to land in Mozambique on Thursday. It would work with the SANDF.
The areas helped would be determined by local authorities.
The Associated Press news agency reported that flood waters were receding. Chokwe was the city worst hit.
It reported that the United Nations had said at least 38 people had died in the floods.
Mabanga said the SANDF was on standby with helicopters, medical personnel and search and rescue teams.
He said SANDF chief General Solly Shokwe "would like to commend all the members involved for their swift mobilisation and deployment to assist our neighbours".
- SAPA
