In every corner there is a hammering and a knock – the sounds of rebuilding. „The city without roofs“ is the name of the people of Beira. With simple tools, people are rebuilding their homes, like Kelvin Fernando Vasco Da Souza. „It’s not easy to rebuild the houses, but we long for a normal life,“ he says.

However, normalcy is far from conceivable, because helicopters continue to be used almost nonstop. The helpers are still flying to rescue people, even on day 12 after the cyclone. They still carry relief supplies – and that will not be over for a long time yet.

„Life returns“

Although a lot has already happened. Trees have been cleared out of the way and you can walk and drive on almost every street, says Beiras Mayor Daviz Simango. Electricity is still missing and there is not enough water, but life is returning and we must not let Beira down. “ The city is not only important for Mozambique, but also for other countries. Many ship routes start in the port of Beira.

Port and airport are open again, but basically Beira starts from scratch. The first cases of cholera have been confirmed, although most of the water supply is working again. Now it is time to build up the power supply. Because some things are almost normal again: The children go to school and markets sell food, albeit at significantly higher prices than two weeks ago.

Aid organizations and residents work together

That’s what Andreas Zinggl of Caritas is concerned about. „In schools and tents, people are being rescued from water masses, many are traumatized, missing loved ones, not knowing where their home will be in the future.“

And despite the despair sounds Cate Turton of the British aid organization UKAid quite positive. They had brought food by helicopter to a place 20 minutes south of Beira, to a school where nobody had been since the cyclone. „It was fantastic to see how well people were organized.“ The households that were most affected had been taken care of first.

New age through climate change

A good two million people are affected by Zyklon „Idai“, also in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Beira Mayor Simango is certain that it is now dealing with climate change, more frequent rainfall and flooding. Mozambique is entering a new era.

Certainly no one in Beira is looking forward to the dark clouds that are currently moving across the city again. New rain is announced for today and the next days.