Choppers head off to Mozambique
Date: 6 March 2007
Three helicopters and an aeroplane were scheduled to take off from Pretoria's Waterkloof Air Force base this morning to start work in Mozambique following last month's flood and cyclone damage.
Their operation is in response to a request from South Africa's eastern neighbour for humanitarian aid.
Cyclone Favio struck parts of southern Mozambique after northern parts of the country experienced extreme flooding.
Among the aircraft are two Oryx helicopters whose job will involve transporting food from Caia to various aid and accommodation centres in the Zambezi Basin, said Ministry of Defence spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi.
The third chopper, an Augusta A109, will be used mainly for assessment, monitoring and liaison in affected areas.
"The Casa 212 (transport aircraft) will be used for ferry and communication flights for the South African contingent," he said.
"The deployment is expected to be six weeks and will be supported by weekly sustainment flights from South Africa."
With the aircraft, further neighbourly help will go to Mozambique in the form of a protection element, five water purification units and their crews and a medical element.
Sapa
