'We would like to work to ensure that African resources will work for Africa,' Melkert said during a press conference. 'This means a recognition of the strengths and constraints in many countries

Following heavy floods in December 2007, Mozambique was again hit by a natural disaster on 7-8 March when Jokwe lashed through its central districts before travelling northwards to Nampula with wind speeds of up to 130 km/h.

An assessment carried out by IOM just days after in consultation with Mozambique's National Institute for Disaster

Summary

MAPUTO, March 25 (Reuters) - More than one-sixth of Mozambique's 9,000 teachers are dying of HIV/AIDS each year, lowering the quality of education and jeopardising future development, a government official told Reuters on Tuesday.

Education and Culture Minister Aires Aly said in an interview that the pandemic had become a national emergency, eroding a critical human resource that is key to the poor southern African nation's economic development.

"We are losing 17 percent of our 9,000 teachers each year, which means we are talking of 1,360 workers lost

The cyclone, which left more than 30,000 households or more than 100,000 people homeless, tore through mangroves, destroying local shrimp production and devastating small agricultural holdings just a month short of harvest.

The misery of those left without shelter has been added to by an unusual cold wave.

This latest disaster follows massive floods in January, which left an estimated 240,000 people homeless. The

Cyclone Jokwe

On 8 March, the Government declared a Red Alert, the highest level for natural disasters, for coastal districts in Nampula province, after tropical cyclone Jokwe hit the northern coast of Mozambique.

Preliminary assessment results indicate that an estimated 12,000 households have been affected by the cyclone in six districts, including Ilha, Mogovolas, Mossuril, Mogincual, Angoche and Moma.

An estimated 800 classrooms were partially or completely destroyed. An estimated 33 health posts and other public buildings were also said to have been damaged.

Cáritas. 18 de marzo de 2008.-  Cáritas Española acaba de aprobar sendas partidas económicas de 60.000 y 50.000 euros para apoyar los planes de reconstrucción puestos en marcha por la Cáritas nacionales de la República Democráticadel Congo y de Mozambique para paliar, respectivamente, los graves efectos causados por el terremoto que asoló la región de Bukavu el pasado mes de febrero y las graves inundaciones en la cuenca del río Zambeze a finales de diciembre.

Reconstrucción de 6 centros de salud y 11 escuelas en Bukavu

Total WFP Caseload: 258,000 floods; 60,000 cyclone

Total food distributed: 4,550 metric tons (flood response, January - present)

Staff assisting emergency response: 48 (including 15 national UNV district Food Aid Monitors, 17 Country Office staff, 10 international surge staff and 7 local short-term recruitments)

In country stocks: 2,900 mt (for emergency response, March distributions)

1. HIGHLIGHTS

- The Zambezi, Púngoè, Búzi and Licungo River basins in central Mozambique registered heavy rains during the past

- The Government of Mozambique has requested the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide emergency food assistance for one month to 60,000 people affected by cyclone Jokwe in the northern province of Nampula.

- WFP plans to begin distributing food assistance to communities affected by Jokwe early next week using existing stocks that were earmarked for other operations. WFP needs US$550,000 to replenish these stocks as soon as possible.

- The National Institute for Disaster