The President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, announced yesterday in Quelimane, Zambezia province, that the government will allocate 250 million meticais to respond to emergency situations in the provinces affected by tropical cyclone Freddy, in order to ensure the rapid recovery of schools, health units and other social services. The funds will be managed by the local executives.

In his communication to the nation, as part of the monitoring of the effects of this natural phenomenon, which hit the provinces of Zambézia, Nampula, Manica, Sofala and Tete, Nyusi announced the extension of the Post-Idai Reconstruction Office's scope of action to recover from the damage caused by this phenomenon and the creation of a permanent post-cyclone reconstruction office.

The Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINED) must work to ensure that students return safely to school by the end of March.

He indicated that a damage assessment should be carried out immediately and internal and external resources mobilized for the recovery of the affected districts in Zambézia.

At national level, a technical-scientific commission will be set up as a consultative body for climate change issues. It will analyze the causes, effects and impacts of these phenomena and recommend solutions for mitigation and adaptation.

As part of the measures announced by the Head of State, Mozambique Airlines (LAM) and Mozambique Airports will be exempt from paying for emergency products up to 500 kilograms (half a ton) on flights in the affected areas until the 20th of this month.

According to the President of the Republic, quoted by the newspaper Notícias, the tariff for ships staying in ports and maritime services in the region will also be reduced to 25 percent for a period of 60 days. The authorities will also reduce the tariff for handling national cargo destined for humanitarian aid by 50 percent during the same period.

Nyusi also announced an exemption on the renewal of driving licenses for those duly identified by the National Road Transport Institute (INATRO).

In the area of Labor and Social Security, pensioners living in Zambezia province will be given support in the form of building materials for their homes.

In the area of social responsibility, the companies Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) and Petromoc will mobilize, in agreement with the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, more than ten million meticais to support the recovery of immediate infrastructure damaged by the cyclone.

In order to guarantee the minimum conditions for transit, the President said that a contractor had already been mobilized to intervene in the cutting of National Road number one (N1), on the Namacurra-Nicoadala section, in Zambézia.