Even before flood waters began to recede along the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe, where more than a million people have been displaced since February, the Church was there with relief supplies and aiding in search and rescue.
The Church leased two helicopters from South Africa March 3 to join other helicopters searching for stranded victims and transporting supplies into flood-ravaged areas. (South Africa borders both affected countries.)"This use of helicopters has been a unique response by the Church," said Garry R. Flake, director of the Humanitarian Service Division of the Church's Welfare Services Department. "Reaching out to those who suffer is in keeping with the mission of the Church."
Weeks of heavy rains and cyclones along the coast of Mozambique have devastated rural areas, killing possibly thousands, stranding hundreds of thousands on hills and rooftops, and destroying stock and crops. As of March 7, all members and missionaries in both countries are reported safe, and there has been no damage to Church property.
"We've been there from the outset," Brother Flake said at the Bishop's Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City where relief supplies were being readied for shipment to relief organizations in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He explained the Church has already sent 300,000 pounds of supplies -- food, clothing and medical kits -- to stricken areas in nine semi-truck loads to Houston for transportation by sea. Seven more truck loads are scheduled for departure March 8 from Salt Lake City, and 18 or 19 more within the next two weeks. And, Brother Flake continued, those loads are in addition to some 150 tons of supplies that were diverted by the Church from other sources throughout the world and $50,000 donated by the Church for the purchase of local supplies as the disaster initially unfolded.
In all, he noted, the Church is donating more than 1.3 million pounds of emergency relief supplies. "The need has really been tremendous," he added. "I'm grateful for our Church leaders for allowing us to be there."
Brother Flake also explained that Humanitarian Service has worked closely with government officials and non-government organizations, such as the Red Cross and Child Aid in Mozambique and Rotary International in Zimbabwe, to assess the needs and deliver the supplies. Helping coordinate efforts in those countries have been Church humanitarian service missionaries -- Elder Ray and Sister Judith Caldwell of Snowflake, Ariz., who serve in Mozambique; and Elder Larry and Sister Kathleen Call of Afton, Wyo., in Zimbabwe.
Over the years, Brother Flake related, the humanitarian outreach of the Church has become known for "how rapidly we respond. We have supplies in stock. As we have the supplies available, combined with the sensitivity of Church leaders and help of the humanitarian service missionaries, we can become a very effective response organi- zation."
And that response has been essential -- especially the helicopters, said Elder Caldwell during a telephone interview at an office at the Bishop's Central Storehouse. He explained that the only way to reach most stricken areas is by air or boat, as waters were still receding as of March 7. One example is Xai-Xai, about 80 miles north of Maputo. "The road will go part way, but all the bridges or the abutments are washed out."
He related that volunteers from South Africa, who have come to be known by locals as "boat people," have been bringing boat motors to power boats in the area. But all this needs gasoline, he added, so, in addition to carrying in relief supplies and bringing out survivors, the helicopter pilots have been ferrying gasoline into stricken areas as well for the boats and for water purification systems run by gasoline.
And the work goes on. As waters continue to recede, the threat of malaria and dysentery looms. In addition, some 4,000 babies are expected to be born in refugee camps during the month of March.
"The contribution the Church is making here will be a great boon," he added.