Turkish aid agencies reach cyclone-hit Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Turkish aid agencies on Sunday have reached to Mozambique, an East African country which was hit hard by a cyclone.

The aid agencies -- National Medical Rescue Team of Health Ministry, the Turkish Red Crescent, Turkey’s Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) -– along with the coordination of Turkey's Disaster and

Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) were greeted by Turkish envoy Zeynep Kiziltan and Mozambican officials in the capital Maputo.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s Ambassador to Maputo Zeynep Kiziltan said that 3,500 people have been rescued so far, but the death toll has reached to 446 according to the latest official data.

“There are still people waiting to be rescued in the country,” said the ambassador, adding that the aid agencies will be involved in search and rescue operations.

Kiziltan noted that at least 600,000 people had to leave their homes and urgent humanitarian aid materials are needed in the country.

She also said that The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) also sent humanitarian aid to help 600 families.

Cyclone Idai, made landfall in Mozambique's port city of Beira on March 14 with winds of up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour, killing several people in Mozambique and neighboring Zimbabwe.

According to UN statements and local media, tens of thousands of victims have lost their homes, crops washed away and roads have been damaged across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

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

*Writing by Gozde Bayar