UN chief saddened by storm deaths in Malawi, Mozambique

UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply saddened" by the casualties from a tropical storm that caused the deaths of 30 People in Malawi and at least 10 in neighboring Mozambique, his spokesman said on Monday.

"The secretary-general is deeply saddened by the loss of life and significant damage to People's homes and livelihoods caused by heavy rains and flooding in Malawi," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman. "The secretary-general extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and People of Malawi."

"The United Nations expresses its solidarity with the Malawi authorities and stands ready to support them as they respond to the humanitarian needs resulting from the heavy rains and flooding," the spokesman told reporters at a regular briefing.

Dujarric later told Xinhua that Guterres also was deeply saddened by the casualties and damage caused by a tropical storm in Mozambique.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that since Friday, a total of 30 deaths and 377 injuries were recorded for Malawi.

"Our humanitarian colleagues say more than 93,000 households -- that's close to half a million People -- have been impacted, including 6,000 households displaced (in Malawi)," Dujarric said, adding that after the storm hit Mozambique, the humanitarian team reported "at least 10 deaths and the displacement of some 10,500 People following heavy rains."

Meanwhile, weather forecasters said another tropical cyclone, Idai, has formed over the Mozambique Channel, between Mozambique and Madagascar, and is expected to make landfall on Mozambique Thursday.