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Campaigners demand an end to the West's exploitation of Mozambique in the wake of Cyclone Idai

CAMPAIGNERS have called on Western countries to end their exploitation of Mozambique as the death toll caused by last Friday’s Cyclone Idai is expected to rise.

An aerial view from a helicopter of flooding in Beira, Mozambique. The Red Cross says that as much as 90 percent of Mozambique's central port city of Beira has been damaged or destroyed by tropical Cyclone Idai
An aerial view from a helicopter of flooding in Beira, Mozambique. The Red Cross says that as much as 90 percent of Mozambique's central port city of Beira has been damaged or destroyed by tropical Cyclone Idai

Described by the World Meteorological Organisation as “the worst weather disaster in the southern hemisphere,” the storm has already killed over 400 and displaced hundreds of thousands in the former Portuguese colony.

The humanitarian aid the country has received so far is “nowhere near the scale and magnitude of the problem,” said Red Cross secretary-general Elhadj As Sy. 

“I fear we will be seeing more [deaths] in the weeks and months ahead, and we should brace ourselves. The situation is simply horrendous, there is no other way to describe it.”

Survivors of Cyclone Idai in an abandoned and derelict building near Nhamatanda about 50 kilometres from Beira, in Mozambique, today
Survivors of Cyclone Idai in an abandoned and derelict building near Nhamatanda about 50 kilometres from Beira, in Mozambique, today

The severe flooding has left what look like inland oceans, making rescue and humanitarian aid operations incredibly difficult.

The damage caused by the flooding has made rescue operations extremely difficult.

“It is heartbreaking to see the destruction and loss of life in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe from Cyclone Idai,” said head of policy Tim Jones at at the Jubilee Debt Campaign, an organisation which campaigns in solidarity with indebted people and countries.

“The international community must respond urgently with grants to help Mozambique cope with the disaster and rebuild afterwards without having to take on more debt.”

Pedestrians walk on the edge of a collapsed bridge in Nhamatanda, about 100km west of Beira, yesterday
Pedestrians walk on the edge of a collapsed bridge in Nhamatanda, about 100km west of Beira, yesterday

“The Mozambique economy has already been hit by a debt crisis triggered by $2 billion of secret loans from London banks.

“The loans were not agreed by the Mozambique parliament, at least $700 million (£531.2m) is missing and a US investigation has alleged that at least $200m (£151.8m) of the loans was spent on bribes and kickbacks to bankers and politicians involved in the deal.

“The people of Mozambique had no say over and no benefit from these loans. The devastation from Cyclone Idai is one more reason why the Mozambican people should not have to pay one cent on the debts.

A man stands in flood waters following cyclone force winds and heavy rain near the coastal city of Beira, Mozambique, Wednesday March 20
A man stands in flood waters following cyclone force winds and heavy rain near the coastal city of Beira, Mozambique, Wednesday March 20

“It is a damning indictment of the international community in general, and the UK government in particular, that three years after the secret loans were revealed, the unjust debt situation in Mozambique has not been resolved.

“All money for disaster relief and reconstruction must come as grants rather than loans, and Mozambique may need further debt relief as well as not paying any of the $2 billion (£1.5bn) of secret debts.”

Anabela Lemos, a campaigner in Mozambique with Justica Ambiental (Environmental Justice) highlighted the West’s role in causing human-induced climate change.  

“[The disaster] is a harsh reminder that the climate crisis is upon us and developed countries need to urgently reduce their emissions and stop funding fossil fuels.

“Right now, UK Export Finance is considering funding the exploitation of gas in Mozambique. We need support for people-centred renewable energy instead.”

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