Brazil to send two planes to Mozambique with aid

The Brazilian government to dispatch two Hercules C-130 airplanes of the Brazilian Air Force to Mozambique with humanitarian aid. The decision was made alongside the International Interministerial Work Group, spearheaded by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations.

The initiative is implemented by means of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and comes in the context of the aftermath of cyclone Idai, which assailed the African country on March 14, with gushes of wind upwards of 170 km/h, a note released by the ministry says. The phenomenon brought along with it floods and left 90 percent of the port city of Beira—Mozambique’s second largest—devastated.

At first, Brazil’s humanitarian aid will encompass rescue and salvage teams from the National Force of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security—with 20 search and salvage experts, boats and other equipment adapted to the disaster that took place in Mozambique—and from the Fire Department of Minas Gerais state, with another 20 firefighters experts plus equipment, including vehicles.

The Ministry of Health donated medical kits and basic health supplies capable of providing emergency assistance to 9 thousand people for up to a month.

The first trip with humanitarian aid will have Beira as its destination—where over 700 have been killed, according to official figures from the country—and is slated for Friday (29), with the arrival scheduled for the afternoon  one day after.