Mozambique: Cyclone aftermath crisis

The local authorities in Namacurra in Zambezia Province, Mozambique are appealing for urgent humanitarian assistance following the tropical cyclone Funso which hit the coastal areas of the province in the districts of Nicoadala, Pebane, Maganja da Costa, Namacurra, Quelimane and Chinde last month. Pedro Fazenda Sapange, the administrator for Namacurra district Red Cross, said that the slow response may lead to starvation and disease outbreaks. 'There is a serious need for food assistance, as most families lost their crops to the cyclone and floods. So far we have seen people prematurely harvesting their cassava which they normally harvest in June and July.'