On Thursday, January 29, national business leaders announced the shipment of a total of 222.5 tons of goods to support flood victims in the province of Gaza, in response to an appeal launched by the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, in the context of the red alert declared due to heavy rains, according to the Lusa news agency.
The aid is the result of a request made by the head of state to around 25 private sector companies to mobilize donations valued at US$2.5 million, aimed at mitigating the impacts of the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
“At this moment, we are forecasting, in this first phase, spending in the order of US$1 million, part of which is already on this ship, which will ship 12 containers with non-perishable food products, hygiene items, shelter kits, among other materials to support flood victims,” said Kristina Abudo, director of the port authority of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC).
Speaking to journalists at the Port of Maputo, Kristina Abudo explained that the operation is being coordinated with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) and is led by the MPDC on behalf of the private sector. “We will continue to provide support over the coming months until we reach the $2.5 million we have committed to,” she assured.
The goods will be transported by a ship belonging to Civitas Partner, which will carry out the operation at no cost, in an act of solidarity with the affected populations. According to Hilénio Truzão, Civitas’ administrator, the vessel will also call at other national ports to unload 182 additional containers, with their final destination being Afungi, in the province of Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country.
The appeal to the private sector was launched by the President of the Republic on January 20, during a meeting with business leaders, with the aim of mobilizing support for flood victims and strengthening the national response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the floods.
According to provisional data from INGD, the floods of recent weeks have caused 22 deaths and affected around 700,000 people, with 3,541 houses partially destroyed, 794 totally destroyed, and 165,946 flooded. There are also reports of 45 injured and 10 missing, while rescue operations continue for families under siege, especially in the provinces of Maputo and Gaza.
Since the beginning of the rainy season in October, Mozambique has recorded 146 deaths, 148 injuries, and 820,984 people affected, according to INGD. Given the scale of the tragedy, several international partners, including the European Union, the United States, Portugal, Angola, Spain, East Timor, Norway, and Japan, have already announced and sent emergency humanitarian aid, with national and foreign air and sea resources also involved in the rescue operations.
