In the wake of Cyclone Idai which has ravaged Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi counties of South Africa which claimed the lives of more than 100 people, India has diverted three naval ships to the Beira port city in Mozambique in order to provide immediate disaster relief and humanitarian aid.
In a tweet, secretary economic relations (ER) TS Tirumurti said: “In response to a request from Mozambique hit by tropical cyclone causing loss of lives and damage, India has diverted 3 Indian Naval Ships to the port city of Beira to provide immediate Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief of food, clothes and medical help to affected people.”
According to ANI news reports, an estimated total of around 1.5 million people have been affected by the cyclone Idai. The number of missing people is unclear as to the entire village of Zimbabwe, Chimanimani east district, was swept away with flash floods that were triggered by torrential rains, according to Joshua Sacco, a lawmaker from the affected region.
He told Anadolu agency: “We are talking about the loss of lives, at the moment 65 deaths have been confirmed.”
While stressing the death toll could further rise in upcoming days, Sacco said, “We are worried about an area called Copper where Rusitu and Nyahode Rivers meet and that’s where the whole police camp and several government houses were swept away. We don’t know where those workers are.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa cut short his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of the ensuing crisis.