Rising floodwaters leave thousands stranded
POSTED: February 20, 2007
By Staci Dennis
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Widespread flooding along the Zambezi River has devastated homes, crops and is expected to displace more than 500,000 people.
OBI and Mercy Air brought one ton of food as well as medical supplies to this stranded group of people.
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MOZAMBIQUE, Africa - A white flag with a red cross flew over a crowd numbering more than 1,200 as they screamed and pleaded for help from a passing helicopter.
The people stood crowded on a two-acre plot of land known as Canga – the only higher ground they could retreat to – now turned "island" by the floodwaters and overflow from the Zambezi River.
"I knew if I erected a flag you would come to save us," said an International Red Cross representative, who was among the people stranded on the island after fleeing the rising waters.
"All the people came running when they saw the helicopter and the bags of food," said David Darg, Operation Blessing's assistant director of international programs. "They were cheering and hooting and making a lot of noise."
The newly-made village is just one of several clusters of thousands of people who have been forced to flee to higher ground due to recent flooding from torrential rains in central Mozambique.
Utilizing helicopter support from Mercy Air, OBI was able to airlift more than one ton of food to the stranded residents, who later told relief teams three children had died from starvation the day before.
Together, OBI and German partner Humedica have been working with Mercy Air to fly over flood-ravaged areas and locate pockets of survivors isolated by the floods.
OBI is the only NGO working out of Caia able to reach these cut off communities by air and make daily deliveries of food, medical aid, tarps, blankets and other relief items supplied by the International Red Cross and the World Food Program.
Today and yesterday, teams also began dropping plastic sheeting to help the citizens prepare for Cyclone Favio due to hit Thursday night.
Additionally, OBI secured a second helicopter with Marine Reach, a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affiliate in Tanzania, to help distribute more aid to victims.
"Fertile farm lands have become swamps," Darg said. "We are right in the middle of a flood basin."
Floodwaters are currently at the same levels as in March 2001 – when the region experienced one of the worst floods in its history. The 2001 flood claimed more than 700 lives and displaced a half a million people.
During the last few days, the situation has deteriorated and the National Water Directorate has advised people to move to higher ground. Already more than 60,000 people have evacuated.
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OBI's David Darg stands among a group of 1,200 people in need of relief. |
The announcement for people to leave their homes came on the heels of an estimate released by The National Institute for Disaster Management saying more than 500,000 people could be displaced due to the flooding.
Flooding has already destroyed hundreds of homes, possessions and crops – which will contribute to a lack of food in the coming months. Initial reports indicate thousands of people are living in camps with no shelter or essential items.
Mozambique officials are attempting to control some of the water flow by regulating water discharge from the country's massive Cahora Bassa Hydro-Electric dam. However, as floodwaters rise, more water must be released, causing problems for those living down river.
A total of 86,000 people have been rescued from swamped areas, including 2,607 rescued Feb. 15 in the central provinces of Manica, Sofala and Zambezia, and in western Tete. The floods have killed about 40 people in Mozambique, officials report, and forced the Zambezi River to burst its banks.
"High ground is quickly running out," Darg said. "The whole area is covered in water."
AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
How You Can Help
You can take part in helping Mozambique's displaced citizens and other victims of disaster by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief programs. With your support, OBI can continue to provide food, medical care and more to thousands of hurting people.
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