Turkish agencies send aid to cyclone-hit Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique

The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) sent 15 tons of aid to Mozambique, an East African country hit hard by last week's cyclone, agency official told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

The shipment of food and cleaning materials, along with items from other relief agencies, was sent in containers via by ship to Beira, the area hardest hit by Cyclone Idai, according to Recep Bora Atlihan, Kizilay's official in the capital Maputo.

"We're planning to send 15 tons of humanitarian aid, food, and cleaning supplies," in an initial shipment expected to reach the Beira port by Monday, Atlihan said.

He added that Kizilay acted fast in sending aid to the region.

"We're trying to reach a helping hand from our country to people in need as fast as possible and we hope to be successful," he said.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) also sent personal care and food packages to Beira to help 600 families for 10 days.

TIKA is working to help the people, the agency's Maputo Program Coordinator Omer Faruk Mergen told Anadolu Agency, adding that the aid packages will be delivered by ship on the first vessel leaving Mozambique’s capital.

Noting that the distribution of aid will be organized by the TIKA team, Mergen said: "It's not possible to reach Beira by land."

Help with search and rescue

Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) on Saturday also sent aid supplies to Mozambique via plane.

The shipments include tents, search and rescue tools, boots, and personal care packages, Hamza Tasdelen, AFAD's vice president, told Anadolu Agency.

The plane left Turkey's capital Ankara early Saturday, also carrying 51 members of a search and rescue team.

Idai caused massive damage across southern Africa five days after making landfall in Mozambique, creating a major humanitarian emergency, according to the UN.

The UN said as of Friday, at least 242 people were confirmed dead following the cyclone, and many areas remain inundated. But Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi said he believes the death toll could reach at least 1,000.

Many areas in Mozambique remain without electricity, and almost all networks have been severely damaged, according to the UN.