Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has guaranteed that the government will continue to mobilise support to assist the victims of Cyclone Chido, which recently hit Cabo Delgado province. The promise was made on Friday (20), during his visit to the district of Mecúfi, where the weather phenomenon entered the country.
According to Notícias, Nyusi emphasised that, despite the efforts already underway, the resources available are still insufficient to meet all the needs of the affected populations. ‘Stay strong, the government is with you. We know that this population doesn’t like dependency, but because evil has struck you, accept that we will support you,’ said the head of state during a meeting with local residents.
Among the priorities identified by the government are the distribution of temporary shelters, such as tents and tarpaulins, the provision of food, drinking water and medicines, as well as the restoration of electricity. Nyusi called for speedy delivery of this aid, given the risk of new heavy rains in the region.
During his visit, the President interacted with the victims and members of the district government, visited the local hospital, which was destroyed by the cyclone, and spoke with the health professionals who are treating patients in improvised facilities. On site, he argued that reconstruction must include significant improvements in the quality of housing and infrastructure.
‘It’s in crises that we learn to do better. We need to think about the kind of houses that will be built from now on. That’s why my team includes geographers and specialists to help redesign the spatial planning of the affected areas,’ emphasised Nyusi.
As well as Mecúfi, the head of state flew over the Metuge district, another area seriously affected by the cyclone. Nyusi emphasised that the government had decreed two days of national mourning in memory of the victims, after assessing the magnitude of the damage.
As he emphasised, the authorities and international partners are committed to strengthening the humanitarian response and speeding up the recovery of the devastated areas, while working to prevent future damage caused by extreme weather phenomena.
