The Church in Mozambique is scrambling to try to help hundreds of thousands of people in the district of Beira who have been left stranded by unprecedented floods.
The flooding was caused by Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Strong winds tore down roofs and even entire houses, with rising waters causing massive destruction. Hundreds of people have been confirmed dead, but the death toll is expected to rise to the thousands.
The Diocese of Beira has formed an emergency commission to try to deal with the crisis and coordinate relief efforts, as several countries and organisations rush to offer help. Local bishop Cláudio Dalla Zuanna described a dire situation. “Houses, schools, hospitals and churches lost their roofs and in some cases walls collapsed,” he said. “Several trees fell on buildings, roads and vehicles, making transport difficult.
