The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) registers a deficit of 9 billion meticais for the implementation of the Contingency Plan for the Rainy and Cyclonic Season 2024/2025, out of an estimated 11 billion meticais needed to meet all needs.

According to the president of INGD, Luísa Meque, who was speaking at an event led by the prime minister, Adriano Maleiane, to present the proposals of the Contingency Plan, in order to overcome the deficit the authorities will be able to count on the collaboration of partners, including civil society, which will be able to contribute food to help vulnerable families.

"In terms of needs, we have a deficit of 9 billion meticais. In order to make up for this deficit, we'll be mobilizing various resources from our partners and the community in general," said Luísa Meque, quoted by the AIM.

According to INGD forecasts, the 2024/2025 rainy season is expected to affect 2.5 million more people, who will need assistance in terms of material and financial resources, the cost of which is estimated at 11 billion meticais.

For the current rainy season, INGD still needs the goods that were looted from the institution's premises in Maputo city during the demonstrations that shook the whole country, particularly the Mozambican capital, Maputo, at the beginning of this month.

In terms of losses, the institution reports a loss of around 60 million meticais, including the theft of satellite phones "which are very important in times of emergency assistance".

"We regret that people have actually vandalized and looted our facilities, especially the sector that provides assistance to the people who need it most. It's a huge setback," said Meque.

For the first phase of this rainy and cyclonic season - which includes the months of October, November and December - rain is expected in the south, while the second season will be marked by normal rainfall with above-normal trends in the north.

(Photo DR)