A procession of mourners carried the coffin containing the body of Tomas Joaquim Chimukme, who was killed by the cyclone, through saturated marshland outside Beira.The UN has warned that stagnant water in many areas, decomposing bodies and the lack of sanitation in overcrowded shelters in Mozambique could create breeding grounds for diseases."That is the reason why I am raising the alarm. Many of these water-borne diseases are a great risk, but they are preventable," he added.
"The worst thing is the children crying and looking for their parents... It is heartbreaking," he said, adding that it remained unclear how many children may have been orphaned. Medical services in the affected region were stretched even before the cyclone hit and according to aid group Doctors Without Borders , Beira hospital's operating theatre sustained serious damage. As many as 17 health centres have lost their roofs, it added in a statement.
The South African military has deployed several aircraft to the affected area and an EU-funded WFP chopper is supporting rescue and recovery efforts.