The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, went to Nampula province today, the province most affected by Cyclone Jude, to assess the impact of the destruction, show solidarity with the communities affected and coordinate the response and recovery actions.

During the visit, the Head of State noted that the conditions for assisting the affected populations are in place, with food supplies and health assistance guaranteed.

"Our presence in Nampula has two main objectives: firstly, to show solidarity with the people of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Zambezia provinces. Secondly, to express our condolences to the bereaved families. As you know, here in Nampula province the INGD [National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management] has informed us that there have been 11 deaths and 36 injured," said President Chapo.

The Head of State highlighted the preventive work carried out by the INGD and the Local Disaster Risk Management Committees. "If there hadn't been this work by the INGD advance team and also, above all, by the Local Disaster Risk Management Committees, the damage would have been greater in terms of deaths and other situations," he acknowledged.

When he visited the most affected areas, such as Mossuril and Ilha de Moçambique, Chapo saw that the people had access to food and health care. "We visited the warehouse, the people have food, and we also went to visit the health center, where they are receiving health care. Assistance was provided by air to deliver food, we managed to make porridge for the children, and at the moment they are still having meals," he said.

At the Monapo River, where the National Road Number One (EN1) was significantly cut, Chapo saw that preparations for the repair were progressing. "We left there satisfied, firstly because the contractor is already mobilized, he's already on site with the equipment, but he's waiting for the trucks to arrive to load the stone and unload it on site so that we can reconnect the two provinces," said the President.

Chapo presented four recommendations for the recovery of the affected areas. The first recommendation is that the National Roads Administration (ANE) and the Minister for Transport and Logistics, who is already on the ground, should not leave Nampula without restoring the link, first in a conditioned way for light vehicles, then for heavy vehicles.

The second recommendation is to take care of the populations in the accommodation centers. The third is to continue to assist the populations still under siege by air or road, should the waters recede. And the last recommendation is to make communities aware of the importance of evacuating risk areas whenever there are disaster warnings.

In order to guarantee fuel supplies to Cabo Delgado, one of the provinces also hit by the natural phenomenon, the government is organizing transport via maritime cabotage, from the Port of Nacala, in the neighbouring province of Nampula. "We are working around the clock to recover this link [between the two provinces]. We will first do an emergency replacement for light vehicles and then for heavy vehicles. Then we'll carry out medium and long-term programs to restore the roads to the way they were," Chapo explained.

The President highlighted the mobilization of contractors to re-establish the link between the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado. As well as the Monapo River being cut, the Mecubúri River has also been cut. As such, the statesman explained that the Cabo Delgado contractor will first restore the Mecubúri River, which will enable work to be done on the Monapo River.

The President of the Republic considered the visit to be positive, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring the rapid recovery of infrastructure and a return to normality in the affected provinces. "We are doing everything we can to restore the access roads, especially the EN1 and the road linking Nacala, Nampula, from the Monapo river, so that we can put our economy to work and guarantee the circulation of goods," concluded the President of the Republic. (Text: RM)