GABORONE, Jan. 28– Botswana has urged the public to support Mozambique’s flood response after the Mozambican government issued a red alert and called for aid. In a public appeal statement released Sunday by the Ministry of International Relations, Botswana requested in-kind donations only, not money, to assist the flood-affected communities in Mozambique. “Botswana expresses solidarity and urges the public to support Mozambique through in-kind donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, water purifying solutions, blankets, mattresses, clothing, and building materials,” said the statement. On Saturday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said that the Gaborone-based regional body has deployed its Emergency Response Team (ERT) to support the governments of Mozambique and South Africa, following recent floods and extreme weather conditions that have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, and disruptions of essential services. The SADC ERT will be on the ground in Mozambique and South Africa from Jan. 23 to Jan. 31, providing support to national authorities in emergency response, early recovery operations, continuous monitoring of the situation, and consolidation of a regional humanitarian appeal, based on the evolving impact assessments, the SADC said in the press release. According to the press release, flooding has impacted central and southern regions, notably Gaza, Maputo, Sofala, Inhambane, and Manica provinces, which prompted Mozambique to declare a red alert on Jan. 16 and appeal for humanitarian assistance.
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