The OCHA report said authorities estimated that more than 400,000 people had been affected, with numbers expected to rise as rains continue.By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has announced the cancellation of his trip to Davos, Switzerland where he was billed to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) following severe floods in the Southern African nation that have damaged infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
The President in a Facebook post late Sunday said that his country “is going through a tough time … (and) the absolute priority at this moment is to save lives”.
Mozambique’s Gaza, the capital Maputo and Sofala provinces have experienced heavy floods arising from severe rains since the middle of December.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had on Sunday said in a report that several river basins have risen above alert levels.
The OCHA report said authorities estimated that more than 400,000 people had been affected, with numbers expected to rise as rains continue.
Neighbouring South Africa that has declared a national disaster has deployed an air force helicopter to Mozambique to help with search-and-rescue efforts.
Parts of South Africa that have been affected by heavy rains include the northeast where its renowned Kruger National Park is located.
On Monday Kruger reopened to day visitors after being closed for several days.
Flooding has become more frequent and severe in southeastern Africa as climate change makes storms in the adjacent Indian Ocean more powerful.
