Nearly a million Southern Africans hit by floods, cyclones this season - UN
24 March 2008 - Almost a million people across Southern Africa have suffered as a result of floods, cyclones and heavy rains so far
during the annual wet season, and although the worst of the weather is over for another year, problems could persist
until the end of April, United Nations relief officials report.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest update on the situation in Southern
Africa that further heavy rains are still expected, including in central Mozambique, where the rivers are already
swollen after two days of intense rainfall last week.
In recent weeks heavy rains have also hit southern Angola, Namibia and the eastern part of South Africa, OCHA reported.
But Cyclone Jokwe, which struck the Mozambican province of Nampula earlier this month, has since dissipated without
causing further damage to either Mozambique or Madagascar.
In total, local authorities estimate that 987,516 Southern Africans have been affected adversely by rains, floods and
cyclones since October last year. The hardest hit is Madagascar, where several cyclones as well as rains and floods have
affected more than 332,000 people. Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe have
also been affected.
ENDS