Silver Spring, Maryland--In response to heavy flooding in Mozambique, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping displaced families to recover with desperately needed emergency relief supplies.

In central Mozambique, as many as 285,000 people have been affected by the heavy flooding, with more than 120,000 of those displaced. The majority of survivors have been evacuated from their homes and are currently living in resettlement centers and emergency accommodation centers located throughout affected provinces.

Reports indicate the most urgent need is for tents, water tanks, and water purification kits for the resettlement centers. Many have also expressed concern over the threat of poor hygiene, sanitation, and the spread of water-borne diseases.

ADRA is providing 140 families (approximately 700 individuals) with emergency relief kits packed with essentials such as blankets, soap, water containers, water purifiers, washing buckets, and mosquito nets. The kits are being distributed to displaced families in the Mopeia district, located in the province of Zambézia. The intervention is expected to last about 10 days.

Beneficiaries will be selected based on the National Disaster Management Institute's (INGC) established register of affected people.

ADRA has also implemented an initial response to Cyclone Favio. The category four cyclone's strong winds and torrential rains ravaged coastal Mozambique Thursday morning, devastating the tourist town of Vilanculos and worsening the region's flooding. ADRA teams are distributing tarps and blankets to approximately 1,000 cyclone-affected residents.

ADRA's initial responses to the flooding and cyclone are funded in partnership by ADRA International and the ADRA Africa regional office located in Nairobi, Kenya.

ADRA is committed to meeting the changing needs of those affected by these emergencies, and will be expanding its relief efforts. Updates will be released as they become available.

To assist in ADRA's emergency responses in Mozambique, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill, ADRA International, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904; Phone: 301.680.5145;E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org