Cyclone Idai tore through Zimbabwe and Mozambique leaving more than 800 people dead and many more missing.
Back in 2000, miracle baby Rosita Mabuiango was born up a tree to her mother Sofia, during flooding in southern Mozambique.
Now history has repeated itself during floods caused by Idai, when single mother Amélia delivered her daughter, Sara, whilst clinging to the branches of a mango tree with her two-year-old son.
The family was rescued two days later by neighbours.
Here’s BBC with Amélia’s story:
“I was at home with my two-year-old son when suddenly, without warning, the water began to enter the house,” she told the UN children’s agency Unicef.
“I had no choice but to climb a tree, I was alone with my son.”
Amélia and her two children are currently staying in temporary accommodation and are all doing well.
The last baby to be born in a tree during extreme weather, Rosita, is now 19. Her birth made international headlines.
Speaking with local newspaper Mail and Guardian, Sofia said the birth was “very, very painful.”
“I was crying, screaming. Sometimes I thought the baby was coming, but other times I thought it was because of hunger.”
She added: “A lot of people lost everything in the floods, but I gained something.”
To commemorate the extraordinary circumstances of her birth, Rosita (below) was promised a government scholarship and a paid trip to America courtesy of the US government, but that promise was never fulfilled.
“My studies have always been financed by my mum, I haven’t received anything from the government,” said Rosita.
“OK, the government built a house for us but it is no longer in good condition. When it rains, there are leaks in the house. At least, they should help renovate it.”
Yep, sounds like politicians. All promises, no follow through.
Both Sofia and Amélia are hardcore moms.
Respect.
[source:bbc]
