Cyclone Eloise’s trail of destruction

Vatican News English Africa Service

Cyclone Eloise later categorised as a tropical storm made landfall near Beira, a major Mozambican port city last Saturday. High winds, heavy rains and flooding characterised the Cyclone.  Moving inland, tropical storm Eloise has left a trail of destruction and severe flooding across southern Africa.

Homes, crops and infrastructure in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eSwatini and South Africa have been destroyed.

400 classrooms either damaged or destroyed

As in 2019, with Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, Mozambique has borne the brunt of Cyclone Eloise. The news agency, AP, quoting United Nations officials said 250 000 people in the Mozambique port city of Beira and surrounding areas had been affected. Seventy-six health centres and 400 classrooms have either been damaged or destroyed.

There are fears that extensive damage to crops and waterlogged farmlands in Mozambique and parts of southern Africa will ultimately lead to significantly impaired agricultural production.

Thoughts and prayers of the Southern African Bishops

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) currently holding its plenary session online, has extended its thoughts and prayers to the people of Mozambique.

South Africa’s Bishop of Umtata Diocese and SABC President, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka conveyed his thoughts and prayers to the country of Mozambique who have had to endure, once again, the devastating effects of a cyclone. He further prayed for Mozambicans impacted by the ongoing terrorist war in that country’s Cabo Delgado Province.