Anglican Communion News Service

Canon Jim Rosenthal of the Anglican Communion News Service spoke to Bishop Dinis Sengulane on 29 February 2000 about the current flooding disaster in Mozambique.

"People have no homes, no food and even no Bibles, everything had to be left behind" said Bishop Sengulane in a telephone interview speaking of the multitudes of people escaping the ravages of the floods in Mozambique. The bishop told Canon Rosenthal that "the hospitals are overcrowded with people sleeping on the floors. They are suffering from cholera, meningitis and deadly malaria. It is an awful sight! I have seen it with my own eyes."

According to the bishop the Archdeacon of Chowke is nowhere to be found as that city is completely underwater. In Xaixal the "new church is underwater and the priest has lost everything," the bishop said. He told of one priest that had 25 people living in his modest 2 bedroom rectory as their own homes are under water.

Food is still available in Mozambique but people who have left all their goods behind lack funds for to buy that food or much needed medicines."

"We are devastated and we need help now," the bishop concluded.