ReliefWeb

Brunswick, GA, March 2, 2000 The human tragedy in Mozambique continues with the release of billions of gallons of overflow from the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe. Fearing for their safety, authorities are instructing people to seek higher ground. Over 40,000 people living in the city of Chokwe, 125 miles north of the capital of Maputo, were hit with a six-foot wall of water which completely submerged the town and continues to flood cities in its unrelenting rush to the sea. Low-lying areas along the Save River are totally flooded. Thousands of people have been affected.
Officials state that an accurate count of dead and homeless is made more difficult by the inaccessibility of bridges and roads washed away in the flooding. Many families were trapped when their homes were destroyed. The lack of aircraft for aerial surveillance further impairs rescue efforts. Hundreds of thousands remain homeless and nearly a million people are susceptible to starvation and disease. Families who remain stranded in trees and rooftops are losing all hope of being rescued.

MAP INTERNATIONAL CONTINUES TO RESPOND

In the first phase of a three phase strategic plan, MAP, in partnership with Food for the Hungry (FHI) will provide over one ton of medicines and medical supplies. "Our main concern right now," stated John Garvin, MAP's director of disaster relief, "is the dramatic increase of Cholera, Malaria and other water-borne diseases." These shipments include antibiotics for Cholera and other bacterial diseases; antiparasitics; Chloroquine for malaria; oral rehydration salts for intestinal illness; water purification tablets and trauma supplies. Thousands, desperate for medical care, will be treated.

These long-dated medicines and supplies were specifically requested and will be shipped into Maputo and transported to the coastal city of Beira for distribution.

MAP International is a nonprofit Christian relief and development organization.

Contact us in the U.S. at mapus@map.org or 800-225-8550