The governor of Nampula, Eduardo Abdula, has instructed his work teams to urgently restore basic services such as electricity, water and health in the administrative post of Mossuril, which was severely affected by the intense tropical cyclone Dikeledi. The meteorological phenomenon occurred on 13 January and caused major damage in that northern province.
According to the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), Eduardo Abdula – who visited the coastal district of Mossuril, administrative post of Matibane, on Tuesday (28) – saw a high level of destruction in that region, which was severely damaged, with essential infrastructure destroyed, including health centres and schools.
According to data provided by the district administrator, Alfredo Machaeie, 25,000 houses were destroyed, affecting approximately 62,000 people, and there was damage to 12 health centres and 299 classrooms, of which 190 were totally destroyed and 109 partially.
In view of the situation, Eduardo Abdula instructed the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) to provide immediate assistance to those affected, reiterating the urgency of restoring the supply of electricity and drinking water to the region and guaranteeing ‘everything will be done to alleviate the distress of those involved.’
Abdula stressed the importance of solidarity and support, citing the collaboration of local businesspeople who last week sent 60 tonnes of various goods, including food, shelter and building materials.
‘We came to see how they’re doing after the cyclone and we saw how much destruction there is. INGD is going to start providing assistance to everyone in an organised way, so we ask for your patience,’ the governor appealed to the residents.
On the occasion, the INGD delegate in Nampula, Anacleta Botão, said that essential goods had begun to be delivered, namely shelter kits. The biggest concern, according to the representative, are the families whose houses have collapsed or suffered serious damage.
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi affected a total of 80,780 people throughout Nampula province, leaving a trail of destruction and requiring joint efforts by the authorities and society to recover the affected area
In Mossuril, 25,512 EDM (Electricidade de Moçambique) customers were left without power, but the service has already been partially restored. The restoration operation is still underway, with 2306 customers awaiting supply.
The inhabitants of the Namitatar community have expressed their concern about the distribution of aid, and Eduardo Abdula has pledged to ensure that the process is transparent: ‘The aid will be distributed transparently (…) Everything is being done to ensure that the aid reaches those who need it most,’ he guaranteed.
This Wednesday (29), Eduardo Abdula, who has invited members of the Provincial Assembly from the four parties that make it up (Frelimo, Podemos, Renamo and MDM), will visit Ilha de Moçambique, which was also affected by the cyclone, with 14,466 people affected, according to the INGD. The aim of the mission is to check the damage caused to schools, health centres and the homes of the region’s inhabitants.
The intense tropical cyclone Dikeledi affected a total of 80,780 people throughout Nampula province, leaving a trail of destruction and requiring joint efforts by the authorities and society to recover the affected area.
