Tropical Cyclone IDAI has continued moving westwards, hitting eastern Zimbabwe since 15 March, bringing heavy rains and strong winds and leaving over 40 people dead while several others are missing.
Meanwhile President Mnangagwa has shortened his visit to the UAE to make sure he is involved directly with the national response by way of relief to victims of cyclone IDAI. Mnangagwa has also incorporated in his schedule a plea for assistance for the cyclone victims.
Hundreds of houses have been swept away and 4 major bridges have been damaged and blocked by the flood waters, and there is disruption to power networks.
In Mozambique, the floods have already affected 117,000 people with more than 17,000 displaced.
In neighbouring Malawi, nearly one million people have been affected including more than 80,000 who are without shelter. Both countries are prone to extreme weather events.
The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Mozambique have appealed for US$40.8 million to provide critical emergency relief to 400 000 people who have been affected by TC IDAI.
Earlier this week, IFRC released more than 340,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support local Red Cross early warning and early action, and to prepare to support 7,500 people in the aftermath of the storm.
The EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated for TC IDAI on 15 March and production of maps is on-going
DG ECHO is supporting the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) with allocations of EUR 150 000 for immediate shelter, WASH and health needs due to flooding and TC IDAI in Mozambique, and an amount of EUR 100 000 for the relief effort in Malawi.
