The situation in Mozambique "worse than expected": an agency of the UN



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Legend of the mediaHurricane Kenneth left roads that looked like waterfalls

The situation in northern Mozambique is worse than expected, said a UN spokesman a few days after hurricane Kenneth pbaded through the country.

The system struck the African nation on Thursday with winds of 220 km / h razing entire villages.

It is estimated that 700,000 people are at risk in the region as torrential rains continue.

Pemba, regional capital of the state of Cabo Delgado, has suffered more than 2 m of rain and floods.

OCHA spokesman Saviano Abreu said the situation in the cities of Macomia and Quissanga was critical, adding that the worry of the isolated island of Ibo was also worrying.

Waves up to 4 meters high are expected and aid agencies are worried that the rains will deteriorate.

"We are very worried because, according to forecasts, heavy rains are expected for the next four days," said Deborah Nguyen, spokesperson for the UN World Food Program, at the AFP news agency.

"We anticipate that the rainfall will be twice as high as the cyclone Idai," she added.

Hurricane Idai killed more than 900 people in three countries in March this year.

What is the last?

Pemba is thought to have about 400,000 inhabitants and heavy rains have put many people at risk.

Landslides are a growing source of worry in the Mahate district, said Ocha regional authorities, while in the Natite neighborhood, the houses began to collapse.

The World Food Program reportedly began distributing rations to stranded people, but the destroyed roads forced the operations to end in the most remote areas.

At least five people have died as a result of the cyclone and nearly 35,000 homes have been badly damaged or destroyed, national authorities said.

Brazilian rescue teams saved about 350 people from flooded areas of the city on Sunday.

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AFP / Getty

Legend

Heavy floods destroyed infrastructure and complicated the task of helping

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Reuters

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It is estimated that about 700,000 people are at risk

On Sunday, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply saddened" by the impact of Hurricane Kenneth.

UN agencies are helping local authorities, and Guterres has called for the international community to "add resources" to fund the response in the immediate, medium and long term.

What is the affected area?

The province of Cabo Delgado is not as densely populated as the area affected by Hurricane Idai, and there is apparently more high ground there.

This, in addition to warnings from the authorities before the storm, could drastically reduce losses compared to cyclone Idai.

According to reports, thousands of homes have been razed by the winds and Islamist militant violence has reportedly hit the region in recent months, which could complicate humanitarian operations.

Thousands of people have already fled their homes to shelter from violence in IDP camps.

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