Africa News
SA troops helping flood-hit Mozambique─── 10:39 Sun, 18 Jan 2015
Cape Town - South African troops were helping to deliver shelter to people affected by flooding in Mozambique, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Sunday.
"Yesterday [Saturday] our helicopters were helping to transport tents and shelter to people who need it," Navy Captain Jaco Theunissen said. Associated Press reported on Friday that at least 38 people had been killed in the floods since floods hit the Zambezia province last weekend.
He said it was difficult to keep in communication with the troops there because the necessary infrastructure had been damaged in the flooding.
SANDF members flew to Mozambique on Thursday to assess the situation and the exact requirements.
Two Oryx medium transport helicopters, SA Navy divers, medical staff from the SA Military Health Service and a South African Air Force C-130 aircraft with troops were deployed to the area.
The operation was initially expected to last two weeks, but this depended on how the situation unfolded, Theunissen said.
Sapa
