Turkey sends medical supplies to cyclone-hit Mozambique

By Ismet Karakas

BEIRA, Mozambique (AA) - Turkey’s governmental emergency body has sent medical supplies to cyclone-hit Mozambique in southern Africa as its port city of Beira is battling to control a fast-spreading cholera outbreak.

Cyclone Idai made landfall in Beira, Mozambique on March 14 with winds of up to 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour, killing at least 534 people in south African country, according to local media.

More than 500 cases of cholera have since been reported in the city.

The National Medical Search Team (UMKE) of Turkey sent medical supplies for 10,000 people in the disaster-hit country.

The supplies, sent by military plane, arrived at a hospital in Tica town near the central Beira city on Tuesday.

Among the supplies are medications for treating epidemic diseases such as cholera and malaria as well as serums that can be used for any emergency situation.

The UN has said the cyclone had displaced about 110,000 people, forcing them to take shelter in camps across central Mozambique.

Many areas in Mozambique remain without electricity, and almost all networks have been severely damaged, according to the UN.

*Writing by Nilay Kar Onum