In Chibuto work is in progress to complete the village restored by the Community of Sant�Egidio. The first 25 houses have been completed and 45 more will soon be ready.

During the meeting on the 10th of May, 2001, the Provincial Director of the Gaza Province Health Service thanked the Community for its commitment and loyalty. In fact � he stressed � during the floods of the year 2000 a great deal of aid arrived but now, in the decisive moment of reconstruction, only the Community continues to be present and to offer concrete help.

Meanwhile further help is being sent to the areas affected by the new floods at the beginning of 2000 above all in the central part of the country, and in particular Zambesia. This year�s floods were not as serious as those of last year, but nevertheless tenths of thousands of people have been forced to abandon their homes.

Leonardo Emberti of the Community of Sant�Egidio writes from Mozambique :

� At the end of March we twice sent , by air because the communications by land were interrupted, aid to the locality of Chupanga, on the western bank of the Zambesi river where a camp sheltered around 15,000 people which rapidly increased to more than 20,000. At the end of March we also sent a load of blankets to Caia which is also near the Zambesi river.

During April, as soon as the roads had become more or less open to traffic, we sent four loads by land of about 10 tons. One load went to Zimuala, another to Machanga and two to Nova Mambone. These localities are on the coast near the river Save, about 140 kms south of Beira. They are among those most affected by the floods because in normal times the area is swampy. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people have lost their houses. We have also sent millet flour, oil, sugar, rice, beans and salt to this area.

At the beginning of May, following a sudden fall in temperature, there was a new emergency due to the cold. So we sent several thousands blankets to Chupa, about 100 kms from Beira �.

45 houses in Chibuto are nearly ready. In the photos, the state of the construction at the beginning of May 2001. Only the roof and the external plastering are lacking.