Donor nations stepped up the desperate race to gather survivors from trees and rooftops in Mozambique yesterday as forecasters warned that a violent new storm was threatening the flood-ravaged country.
Western leaders, stung by criticism of their slow response to Africa's latest disaster, announced new aid shipments to boost a fleet of about 30 aircraft struggling to save thousands of people still stranded, and aid the one million people left homeless by three weeks of flooding.
In Chilaulele, a village close to Xai-Xai, north of the capital, Maputo, a crowd surged towards reporters dropped on a small patch of high ground to demand food or rescue.
"You are the first people to come here since the floods came," said Mr Antonio Tamele, adding: "We need food. We need blankets. We need medicine."
Ms Virginia Locha pointed to her breasts and said through an interpreter: "Look, they are dry. I have no food for my baby."
Mr Tamele said the village had been reduced to four sodden islands and demanded to know when help would arrive. Nearby, six women balanced on a largely submerged tractor and waved for help until a military helicopter called by radio came to rescue them.
Helicopters chartered from South Africa and paid for by donor funds went to work in southern Mozambique yesterday, while British and US transports carrying helicopters and hundreds of boats were due to arrive within days.
Germany's Defence Ministry said it was sending four helicopters, and Spain said it would send five. Five South African helicopters, helped since Tuesday by two more, have borne the brunt of the desperate airlift so far, saving more than 9,500 people from the rising waters.
"We are doing everything possible to help," the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Assist
ance, Mr Poul Nielson, said in Maputo.
Mozambique's Foreign Minister, Mr Leonardo Simao, said the flooding was likely to get worse before it got better.
"Out of 15 rivers in the country, nine are international rivers and most of them are still receiving waters from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and even Malawi," he said. "Some rivers like the Limpopo still have big waves coming."
The pace of the rescue was spurred by a report that a new cyclone, Gloria, was gaining strength in the Indian Ocean and could bring torrential rains to Mozambique next week.
"If that storm comes it will be a total catastrophe for this country," said the UN World Food Programme spokeswoman, Ms Michelle Quintaglie.
Cyclone Eline battered Mozambique last week, worsening the disaster after weeks of heavy rainfall across southern Africa.
Although no hard figures are available, aid workers estimate that up to 10,000 people could still be clinging to life in trees and on rooftops, where many have survived since Sunday, although survivors said many had drowned during the long wait.
Dead cattle and goats floated in the swirling muddy waters. Another cyclone would destroy the crumbling homes supporting the thatched roofs to which they cling and could shake exhausted flood victims from their perches.
Reuters adds:
Representatives of several African governments will meet in South Africa today to develop a regional approach to the flooding disaster, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, said yesterday.
Mr Annan said he had spoken by phone to President Joaquim Chissano and other leaders in trying to seek assistance for the region. "We have mobilised the UN system and have also begun very seriously raising money. We have got some response but the response could have been better," he said.