Page 7 - issue05.04.2019
P. 7

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 5, 2019 P7

                                                                                                                                               News

        RAF flies in aid










        as Cyclone Idai










        death toll rises




































       Simon Mander
       A ROYAL Air Force Atlas transporter
       flew emergency supplies into crisis-hit
       Mozambique after a cyclone ripped
       through  the  region  leaving 50,000
       people homeless.
         A Brize Norton-based Atlas crew
       landed at Beira with 20 tonnes of
       equipment including water filters, solar
       lanterns, blankets and shelter kits.
         An estimated 700 people are
       already feared dead after Cyclone Idai
       battered Mozambique, Zimbabwe
       and Malawi on Africa’s south east
       coast.
         The   United  Nations  has
       launched an international aid
       appeal amid growing fears
       that outbreaks of waterborn
       diseases like cholera could see
       the death toll rise dramatically.
         In   Mozambique   the
       government has declared a
       national emergency.                                          stalling  all  land-based  rescue  delivered forklift trucks and
         UK aid will help support an                                missions and making the air  other equipment to speed up
       estimated 37,500 people in the                               operation even more critical.  the time it takes to unload aid
       country without shelter.                                        The A400M Atlas previously  from aircraft.
         The consignment includes 500                               delivered UK aid to those affected   The UK’s International
       water filters, 1,000 solar lanterns,                         by the earthquake and tsunami that  Development  Secretary,
       3,520 blankets, and 600 shelter kits                         struck Indonesia last year.   Penny  Mordaunt, added:
       which  will  be  distributed  by  UN                           RAF    Air  Mobility  Force  “The UK government
       agencies.                       Defence    Secretary  Gavin  Commander, Air Commodore Dom  was one of the first to                      DISASTER RELIEF:
         Around three million people   Williamson said: “The UK stands  Stamp, said: “The Atlas has proven  respond to this crisis and         From top left, a
       were affected – most of them in  united with those affected by the  our ability to deploy globally, to bring  is currently the biggest   Serviceman delivers
       Mozambique, where the key port city  devastation of Cyclone Idai at this  vital aid relief quickly and effectively  global donor to the   aid at Beira airport,
                                                                                                                                               floods caused by the
       Beira  was devastated and  farmland  incredibly difficult time.”  to those who urgently need it.”  response.                            cyclone in central
       flooded.                        RAF pilots navigated challenging   A flight containing more than   “This is undoubtedly                 Mozambique, the
         Among those at risk are a million  flying conditions to reach the affected  7,500 emergency shelter kits and  one of the biggest natural   A400M Atlas, a woman
       children after the storm ripped  areas.                      family tents arrived in Maputo,  disasters to hit the region,              and child affected by the
                                                                                                                                               devastation, unloading
       through  the region causing  an   Many villages and landmarks  Mozambique’s capital, last week.  and our thoughts remain                supplies. PHOTOS: CPl
       estimated $1 billion of damage.  have been submerged by floodwater,   Another UK aid flight has  firmly with the victims.”              Tim Laurence/PA
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