Radio Islam International – 2019/03/19

THE death toll in Mozambique after tropical cyclone Idai tore through the region at the weekend could reach up to 1 000, according to the country’s President Filipe Nyusi.

The category 4 storm made landfall on Friday after brewing in the Indian Ocean, bringing up to 160km/h winds to central Mozambique before weakening slightly and heading towards Zimbabwe.

Nyusi said 84 deaths had been confirmed, but information from rescuers and the damage viewed from the air led him to fear that up to 1 000 people had been killed.

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi, said 89 people had been killed in his country – more than double what was reported there at the weekend.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday called on South African NGOs, companies and individuals to make donations towards humanitarian aid for the people of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe affected by the cyclone, which has claimed at least 150 lives, confirmed so far, and caused widespread damage.

“We have directed all our embassies and diplomats to continue to work with the three countries to assess the damage,” she said.

On behalf of the people of South Africa, Sisulu has sent condolences and wished those in hospital a speedy recovery.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said the cyclone, which also hit the Mozambican city of Beira, left an estimated 90% of the area damaged.