MOZAMBIQUE: HELICOPTER CREW RESCUES MOZAMBICAN WOMEN FROM TREE JUST AFTER SHE'S GIVEN BIRTH

Record ID: 977830

  • Title: MOZAMBIQUE: HELICOPTER CREW RESCUES MOZAMBICAN WOMEN FROM TREE JUST AFTER SHE'S GIVEN BIRTH
  • Date: 1st March 2000
  • Summary: NORTH OF MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE (MARCH 1 2000) (REUTERS) 1. INTER-ELEMENTAL: HELICOPTER HOVERING OVER TREE IN FLOODED AREA WHERE PREGNANT WOMAN IS CLINGING 0.11 2. AERIAL: SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCE SOLDIER BEING WINCHED DOWN TO TREETOP WITH MEDIC 0.22 3. AERIAL: TREE TO WHICH MOTHER, SOFIA PEDRO, CLINGS WITH NEWLY-BORN BABY ROSITA 0.29 4.
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Access Restrictions:This media cannot be downloaded as there may be copyright restrictions. Please contact us for more information
  • Location: NORTH OF MAPUTO AND CHIBUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
  • Country: Mozambique
  • Reuters ID: LVA890OPYTL1EOU8GZGPTD2EAU4U
  • Story Text:A Mozambican woman stranded by rising flood-waters
    in the devastated southern African nation has given birth
    to a baby while desperately clinging to a tree to survive.

    The birth has highlighted the plight of ordinary Mozambicans
    after weeks of rain and floods have continued to devastate
    the country driving tens of thousands of people into trees
    and onto rooftops.

    South African helicopter crews who have been working
    around the clock were called out on a special assignment on
    Wednesday (March 1) to assist in the delivery of a Mozambican
    baby girl.The girl's mother, Sofia Pedro, was - like many of
    her compatriots - clinging to a tree for survival after the
    worst flooding in half a century had devastated her village.

    She had been waiting to be discovered and plucked to safety
    when the baby was born - with the help of a medic and a
    helicopter winchman from the South African Defence force.

    In a dramatic rescue a South African defence Force medic
    was winched to the tree in which Sofia was clinging.After a
    short time the baby, Rosita, was born.Sofia gave birth at at
    about 7 o'clock local time.About 45 minutes later the mother
    and her daughter were winched to safety and taken to dry land.

    Mother and daughter appeared to be fine as the helicopter
    landed.

    Rosita's birth has highlighted the plight of tens of
    thousands of ordinary Mozambicans whose lives have been laid
    waste by the devastating flooding.Three weeks after the
    worst flooding in half a century drove tens of thousands of
    Mozambicans into trees and onto rooftops, more floods were
    expected and aid was only just begining to trickle into the
    area.

    On Wednesday Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano urged
    the world to send more help for a million people displaced by
    devastating floods, and Britain and the United States promised
    extra helicopters and boats.

    Chissano spoke to reporters shortly after a giant C-17
    U.S.transport aircraft landed with aid for one of the world's
    poorest countries, battling to relieve the suffering of
    citizens battered by three weeks of rain and floods.

    "The figure is difficult to quantify but we speak of one
    million people on the move at the moment," Chissano told
    reporters before flying off to inspect flood-ravaged areas.

    The president said more water released from the man-made
    Lake Kariba in Zambia and Zimbabwe would reach Mozambique in
    the next few days, hitting areas previously unaffected by the
    floods and Cyclone Eline, and compounding the country's misery.

    At first light on Wednesday, exhausted South African air
    force crews set off again to rescue some of the thousands of
    Mozambicans who had spent another night in trees.

    The South African aircraft have saved 8,000 people since
    the latest wave of floods swelled on Sunday but aid workers
    estimate 100,000 are still awaiting help.At least 350 people
    have died across southern Africa in the worst flooding in
    fifty years.

    Many Mozambicans were feared trapped in their water-logged
    homes, while cows, goats and dogs died where they lay.One aid
    worker said that he would not be surprised to find thousands
    of bodies once the water recedes.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register