Cyclone Idai: Appeal for US$40.8 million to provide life-saving assistance – UN in Mozambique

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Cyclone Idai: Appeal for US$40.8 million to provide life-saving assistance – UN in Mozambique

10:23 CAT | 19 Mar 2019

Aerial view of Beira. Photo courtesy

The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Mozambique appeal for US$40.8 million to provide critical emergency relief to 400,000 people who have been affected by Tropical Cyclone IDAI. Following the red alert issued by the Government of Mozambique on 12 March 2019, and its appeal for international assistance, the UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilising to support the Government response.

Cyclone IDAI made landfall during the night of 14 to 15 March 2019, bringing torrential rains and winds to the Provinces of Zambezia, Manica, Sofala and Inhambane. Based on the preliminary information, it is estimated that 600,000 people will be severely impacted by Cyclone IDAI, including 100,000 people already affected by flooding in early March in the Provinces of Tete and Zambezia. While the full impact of the cyclone will be determined by rapid inter-sectorial needs assessments, it is imperative to act now on a noregrets basis to reach those hardest-hit by the storm.

Although comprehensive set of data related to the damage will be collected in the aftermath of the cyclone, initial estimates indicate varying levels of destruction and interruption of services as follows:

1) damages to schools and health facilities, including materials and supplies;

2) damages to crops, including nearly 85,000 hectares of crops already impacted by flooding in early March, which will undermine food security and nutrition, including amongst the most vulnerable people already affected by the earlier floods and drought;

3) destruction and interruption of water supply due to heavy winds and floods;

4) damages to sanitation facilities heightening the risk of water-borne diseases and prevalence of unsafe water;

5) destruction of houses and loss of non-food items; and

6) heightened protection risks, particularly for women and children, including increased risk of gender-based violence and possible displacement.

In order to assist the most vulnerable population, the UN and NGOs have developed an initial multisectoral response prioritising the most time-critical activities in the following sectors as outlined in the table below: education, health, WASH, food security, protection and nutrition. The logistics sector has also been locally activated to support the response through the provision of one helicopter for an initial period of 4 weeks to reach inaccessible areas and to facilitate coordination with national authorities.

Tableb

Tableb1

This initial appeal letter will be revised, if necessary, as more data becomes available while the Mozambique Humanitarian Response Plan 2019 will be amended to incorporate activities related to the floods and cyclone response.

Source: UN Resident Coordinator for Mozambique