Story by Theophilus Chuma
GOVERNMENT has activated humanitarian assistance to areas that were affected by Tropical Storm Freddy this past weekend.
Despite downgrading upon making landfall in Mozambique late last week, Tropical Cyclone Freddy’s effects were felt in some areas across the country, with some infrastructure particularly schools and houses having been destroyed.
Some areas are still inaccessible and the government has since moved in to ensure assistance is rendered to those in need.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable July Moyo said, ‘‘Over the weekend, we dispatched a team to Gwanda, Binga and Gokwe. We still want to use helicopters to give assistance to areas that cannot be reached especially in Gokwe North and we are working with the air force and the civil protection unit to get the assistance there. In the Beit bridge area especially Zezani where our team visited there is a bridge there that has been devastated and we are appealing to partners to come on board.’’
Besides food aid, government and development partners have also implemented temporary structures to relieve those affected.
The government is also stepping up early warning systems to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He added, ‘‘We have improved our early warning systems and we are urging the lower structures such as the village heads, headmen, chiefs, local authorities to be prepared and accept that climate change is real.’’
Experts have predicted the intense frequency of cyclones and tropical storms in Southern Africa, owing to climate change.
