Tearfund partners working in Mozambique and Zimbabwe report that flood waters are still rising.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by flooding and dozens have died as a result of unusually heavy rains this month that are inundating southern Africa.
In Mozambique, our partner the Diocese of Niassa has been gathering information through its network of churches about the scale of the damage.
Parts of three provinces – Tete, Sofala and Manica – are now inaccessible by land. Shire and Pinde are two badly affected areas.
Bishop Mark Van Koevering said, 'There is a national relief effort underway which is based in Caia.
'Flood waters are still rising and rain is still falling both in Zambezia and neighbouring countries.'
For those who have had to escape the floods, the immediate priorities are finding drinking water and having shelter.
The United Nations has begun relief flights to central Mozambique, where some 76,000 people have been affected.
Helicopters have flown 2.5 tons of cereals and pulses to 13,000 people who have been displaced in the town of Goligoli and another 74 tons are due to arrive in the next few days.
Tents, plastic sheeting and mosquito nets have also been taken to the town of Mutarara.
In Zimbabwe, floods have caused thousands of people to leave their homes in Masvingo, Mashonaland and Manicaland provinces.
Tearfund partner ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands), works in some of the flooded areas, providing church-based care for children orphaned because of AIDS.
The effect of the rains on crops has been noticed by ZOE's Jean Webster who says in some areas people are unable to work in the fields and water logging is causing maize plants to turn yellow.
A positive is that dams that had been dry are now filling up. In some towns drinking water supplies had been critical, often only available once or twice a week.
However despite the rains, water supplies remain intermittent - due to the economic crisis the government is unable to provide sufficient chemicals for water treatment.