DAR ES SALAAM - Eleven of the 14 Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries started on Monday a joint military drill in southern Tanzania, according to military sources.

The drill, codenamed "Exercise Blue Ruvuma", aims at coping with disaster relieves.

The five-day drill is expected to air-lift 120 tons of maize to supposed disaster-stricken areas in Mtwara and Lindi, the two southeastern regions of Tanzania.

Some 350 air force personnel have gathered for the drill from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and host Tanzania.