She was seen as a 'miracle baby' after being born in a tree, which her mother had climbed to escape flooding, but nearly 26 years on, Mozambican Rosita Salvador Mabuiango has died after a long illness, her sister told the BBC. The sight of the newborn and her mother being winched to safety by helicopter amid the deluged landscape became one of the defining images of the Mozambique floods of 2000 – the country's worst ever. Reflecting on Rosita's life, President Daniel Chapo described her as a symbol for girls in the country.
In February 2000, hundreds died and hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes after the Limpopo River burst its banks in southern Mozambique. Rosita's mother, Carolina Cecilia Chirindza, described to the Red Cross how they sought refuge in trees as the waters rose. She recounted, 'It was a Sunday afternoon about four o'clock, and the waters began rising... I put my two small children on my back and tried to climb up.' Carolina went into labor while stranded, leading to Rosita's dramatic rescue by a South African military helicopter.
On Monday, confirming the news of Rosita's death, her sister Celia Salvador stated she passed away after a prolonged struggle with an unexplained illness, reportedly linked to a blood disorder known as anemia. President Chapo expressed condolences, remarking that Rosita embodied hope for young girls in Mozambique, emphasizing her significance to the nation's people. Political analysts have called her death a 'wake-up call' for the government to revamp the lacking health services in Mozambique, as families face systemic health challenges. Local officials are working with Rosita's family to plan her funeral arrangements.
In February 2000, hundreds died and hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes after the Limpopo River burst its banks in southern Mozambique. Rosita's mother, Carolina Cecilia Chirindza, described to the Red Cross how they sought refuge in trees as the waters rose. She recounted, 'It was a Sunday afternoon about four o'clock, and the waters began rising... I put my two small children on my back and tried to climb up.' Carolina went into labor while stranded, leading to Rosita's dramatic rescue by a South African military helicopter.
On Monday, confirming the news of Rosita's death, her sister Celia Salvador stated she passed away after a prolonged struggle with an unexplained illness, reportedly linked to a blood disorder known as anemia. President Chapo expressed condolences, remarking that Rosita embodied hope for young girls in Mozambique, emphasizing her significance to the nation's people. Political analysts have called her death a 'wake-up call' for the government to revamp the lacking health services in Mozambique, as families face systemic health challenges. Local officials are working with Rosita's family to plan her funeral arrangements.
