A special WF-AID mission has flown into disaster-hit Mozambique to distribute food aid in the wake of Cyclone Idai.
The team distributed 700 food packs including goods from rice to sardines in the very remote Buzi District, among the areas worse affected by the cyclone.
The relief programme was carried out in partnership with Africa Federation.
Thousands of Mozambique families were displaced when Cyclone Idai wreaked its devastation two months ago. In Buzi, hundreds were rescued by boat or helicopter, and many families are now returning home to rebuild their lives.
One WF-AID volunteer said: “They need whatever help they can get. They lost everything. All they have is crumbs.”
A Buzi resident named Patrice said: “Thousands of families are suffering in this place. 300 people died. They tried to escape by bike, motorbike and boat.”
WF-AID distributed rations comprising 5 x 10 kg rice, along with:
- Maize flour 1kg – 5 packets
- Cooking oil – 2 litres
- Sugar – 2 kg
- Masa spaghetti – 2
- Five Roses tea – 6 packets of 62.5g (26 teabags each)
- Milk powder – 400g
- Salt – 1 kg
- Fijao (beans) – 1 kg
- Sardines – 1 pack
Idai was one of Africa’s worst tropical cyclones, killing more than 1,000 people, leaving thousands missing and causing calamitous damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
The food aid mission was carried out by WF-AID and was sponsored too by other organisations.
The team included WF past president Dr Asgar Moledina, Syed Hasnain Ahmed, Tammar Hemani, Mohamed Mahdi, Iftekhar, Imtiaz Haider and Zishan from Jaffery Islamic Center, Maputo and Chimoyo. They were ably assisted by volunteers from AMURT Philippines.
On the weekend of 4/5 May they flew to Beira and then drove 130 km to isolated Buzi District.