At this moment we must guarantee all logistical conditions for people to live in acceptable environment in the accommodation centres', said Diogo.
However, she recommends a close control of the situation in the Zambezi valley, even after the conclusion of the rescue operation, and describing the situation as still 'dangerous'.
Addressing a press conference in Maputo, after a meeting with the Disasters Management National Institute's Coordinating Council (INGC) this Friday, Diogo said that despite the reduction of discharges in the Cahora Bassa Bassa dam, from 8,000 cubic metres per second to about 5,500 cubic metres, priority is to keep people in the accommodation centres.
The rescue situation has been completed, and the wave of 8,000 cubic metres per second has been through Luabo and Marromeu. It has done what it had to do. For the moment we must guarantee all logistic conditions for the people to live in acceptable accommodation conditions', she said.
She is happy that the relevant authorities managed to carry out the rescue operation not allowing any casualty, but she did not forget to mention the 28 deaths in January in the Zambeia province, although not directly related to the current floods.
Speaking of logistics, Diogo said that there is no shortage of foodstuffs, but what is happening is ' a shortage of means to carry the staff to the needy, because the access roads are impassable, and the fact that IGNC has only one helicopter to do this job'.
Diogo assured that all food needs are guaranteed, which include about 2,000 tonnes of grain, 257,000 tonnes of beans, 85,000 tonnes of cooking oil, and 58 tonnes ot salt for the next month, to cater for about 142,000 affected people.
INGC says that its main concern at the moment is the shortage of tents for the people in the accommodation centres.
A helicopter is expected to arrived in Caia this Friday, with at least 3,000 tents necessary for the needy people.
Diogo said that only one helicopter and two fliers are operating in the field, but INGC is awaiting for the donors' decision to acquire two more helicopters to help in the distribution of foodstuffs and other activities.
'There is need of 9,000 tents to distribute to the needy families, but the 3,000 tents that we hope arrive today will help a lot in responding to the need. But the greatest need is in the accommodation centres', said Diogo.
SOURCE: AIM
