A South African relief team has distributed 367 tons of supplies to the flood-stricken Mozambique's Zambezi River valley, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday.

The WFP said in a statement that three helicopters and four boats were sent to deliver food such as maize meal, beans, oil and salt and other essential supplies to areas only accessible by air and isolated camps along the Zambezi River.

"These boats and helicopters have expanded the WFP's logistics operation and provided aid to thousands of vulnerable people who were completely cut off by the floods," said Amir Abdulla, WFP's regional director for Southern Africa.

The WFP's relief efforts in Mozambique began in mid-February, distributing food aid to over 120,000 people hit hard by flooding in the area.

The relief efforts included the distribution of essential items such as tents, latrines and medicines.

The relief team, which was sent to Mozambique about three weeks ago, made it easy for the WFT to reach those in need of help, said Abdulla.

Mozambique has been hit by a series of natural disasters including floods along the Zambezi and Chire rivers, a category four cyclone and the southern half of the country simultaneously experienced severe drought.

The floods caused the destruction of the crops for about 280, 000 people while Cyclone Favio destroyed the crops for about 170, 000 people in central Inhambane Province.

Source: Xinhua