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Flood aid 'not enough'
Thousands are being winched to safety
International aid agencies in Mozambique are warning that the helicopters being used to rescue flood victims will not be able to save everybody, as floodwaters rise dramatically.
"We need more helicopters, we need more humanitarian aid. What we have now is not enough," said Christiane Berthiaume, spokeswoman for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
"We need more helicopters, we need more humanitarian aid. What we have now is not enough," said Christiane Berthiaume, spokeswoman for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
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"If this humanitarian aid is not increased, hundreds of thousands of people may die."
Floodwater in southern Mozambique rose again on Tuesday, engulfing everything its path.
Correspondents say the coastal town of Xai Xai has almost disappeared, and the exodus from the town of Chokwe - which was engulfed in floods over the weekend - is continuing unabated.
The WFP estimates that up to 300,000 people need immediate aid.
Floodwater in southern Mozambique rose again on Tuesday, engulfing everything its path.
Correspondents say the coastal town of Xai Xai has almost disappeared, and the exodus from the town of Chokwe - which was engulfed in floods over the weekend - is continuing unabated.
The WFP estimates that up to 300,000 people need immediate aid.
Flood facts |
About 100,000 people to be rescued
300,000 people in need of immediate support
Seven helicopters flying missions
Each aircraft can carry 50 - 60 people
Almost 5,000 rescued by helicopter since Sunday
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Relief agencies are trying to set up clean-water stations and shelter, but the sheer number of people is overwhelming.
Panic among those fleeing the rising waters has separated children from their parents, and relief agencies are now having to set up programmes to try to reunite families.
At one camp in the south for people who have lost their homes, the number of people rose from 2,000 to 15,000 in less than 48 hours.
More helicopters and light aircraft are being deployed in Mozambique, with missions flying out of the capital, Maputo, moving up a gear.
But the BBC's Greg Barrow, reporting from Mozambique, says helicopter pilots flying over the flood plain are being forced to make stark choices about who to save.
Those who are trapped in the water come first, while anybody who has managed to clamber to safety in trees or on the roofs of houses is considered relatively safe.
The United Nations says donor governments have pledged $13.5m to UN agencies responding to the floods.
But after a meeting in Geneva, a UN spokesman said only about $4.5m had so far been received.
Panic among those fleeing the rising waters has separated children from their parents, and relief agencies are now having to set up programmes to try to reunite families.
At one camp in the south for people who have lost their homes, the number of people rose from 2,000 to 15,000 in less than 48 hours.
More helicopters and light aircraft are being deployed in Mozambique, with missions flying out of the capital, Maputo, moving up a gear.
But the BBC's Greg Barrow, reporting from Mozambique, says helicopter pilots flying over the flood plain are being forced to make stark choices about who to save.
Those who are trapped in the water come first, while anybody who has managed to clamber to safety in trees or on the roofs of houses is considered relatively safe.
The United Nations says donor governments have pledged $13.5m to UN agencies responding to the floods.
But after a meeting in Geneva, a UN spokesman said only about $4.5m had so far been received.
The entire population in the affected areas is either in water up to their necks or stranded in treetops  |
Asfaw Ayelign, UN
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Aid workers are speaking of a very small window of opportunity to save those trapped by the flood waters.
"The entire population in the affected areas is either in water up to their necks or stranded in treetops," said Asfaw Ayelign, logistics officer for the UN agency.
Many people have gone without food or drink for several days and have been sitting and standing outside under the hot tropical sun.
For some of those, the spectre of starvation and death from cholera and malaria is growing.
"The entire population in the affected areas is either in water up to their necks or stranded in treetops," said Asfaw Ayelign, logistics officer for the UN agency.
Many people have gone without food or drink for several days and have been sitting and standing outside under the hot tropical sun.
For some of those, the spectre of starvation and death from cholera and malaria is growing.
In some places people had been hanging onto branches overnight with children on their backs |
Michele Quintaglie
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The spread of disease, lack of clean water and sanitation facilities are of major concern, according to the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
"Cholera is a big concern, malaria will become an increasing concern as flood waters recede and stagnate," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
More water on the way
There are warnings that worse is still to come. Water is pouring in through the nine rivers which enter Mozambique along its western border with South Africa and Zimbabwe, as rains continue to fall in those countries.
Michele Quintaglie, a spokeswoman for the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said: "Not by a long shot is this over. It seems like the water is still rising."
"In some places people had been hanging on to branches with children on their backs," she said.
President Joaquim Chissano, who on Tuesday morning flew over some of the areas of Mozambique that are submerged in muddy water, described seeing bodies floating in flooded rivers.
Almost 5,000 people have been rescued since Sunday.
"Cholera is a big concern, malaria will become an increasing concern as flood waters recede and stagnate," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
More water on the way
There are warnings that worse is still to come. Water is pouring in through the nine rivers which enter Mozambique along its western border with South Africa and Zimbabwe, as rains continue to fall in those countries.
Michele Quintaglie, a spokeswoman for the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said: "Not by a long shot is this over. It seems like the water is still rising."
"In some places people had been hanging on to branches with children on their backs," she said.
President Joaquim Chissano, who on Tuesday morning flew over some of the areas of Mozambique that are submerged in muddy water, described seeing bodies floating in flooded rivers.
Almost 5,000 people have been rescued since Sunday.
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