Admin l Tuesday, March 26, 2019
WASHINGTON, United States – The Department of Defense in United States has sait it will assist U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide humanitarian assistance to Mozambique in response to the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai.
Cyclone Idai one of the most devastating storm made landfall in Mozambique with asustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph), destroying properties on its path. So far 794, 000 have been have been affected based on official records, with 656 people dead. Most of those affected are in relief centres. In Beira, not less than 2, 867 are now accomodated in classrooms.
So far, rescue efforts have intensified, reinforced by a 65-member Chinese rescue team, which arrived in Beira on Monday at the request of the Mozambican government.
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said he has authorized U.S. Africa Command to expend up to $6.5 million in Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid funds to provide logistics support for up to 10 days, beginning March 22.
The scope of logistics support includes airlift of relief materials, responders and third-party personnel.
The Department of Defence supports of this humanitarian assistance effort is authorized by section 2561 of U.S. Title 10 Code. “We will work closely with USAID, the U.S. Embassy Maputo, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to meet the needs of Mozambique in reducing human suffering”, the department said.
