¡¡MAPUTO, Feb. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- About 120,000 people in the southern Mozambican province of Gaza are regarded as in an "emergency situation " because of the drought that has hit the province for the second consecutive year, local news sheet " Vertical " reported on Wednesday.

¡¡¡¡Maize fields have withered due to the scorching heat and lacking of rain. Small dams have dried up, and the only rain the province has seen in recent months was merely light showers -- quite insufficient for crops such as maize.

¡¡¡¡According to Felix Tivane, Gaza provincial coordinator of the National Disasters Management Institute, there are at least five districts as the " most critical areas. "

¡¡¡¡"The drought victims in Gaza have no food reserves," said Tivane.

¡¡¡¡Tivane estimates that the monthly food needs for drought victims in Gaza are 1,792 tons of grain, 179 tons of beans and 89,6 tons of oil. Enditem

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