A powerful storm called Cyclone Idai has hit the African nations of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, affecting over 1.85 million people. Cyclone Idai is now the worst natural disaster in southern Africa in nearly two decades.
Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall over Mozambique between March 14 and 15, producing torrential rains and strong winds across the country, as well as in neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. Cyclone Idai is now the worst natural disaster in southern Africa in nearly two decades. Approximately 900 square miles of land was covered in water – an area larger than New York City and Los Angeles combined. The catastrophic flooding triggered by the storm has killed more than 1000 people, leaving 1.85 million people in need of assistance. Many families were separated as they fled the rising flood waters, while others were trapped on high ground, unable to access basic goods and services for days. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, many having to flee with nothing as the waters rose rapidly. Children, the elderly and people with disabilities who are less mobile are likely to have been left behind or stranded, while women are expected to have borne the brunt of the storm, as they strove to save their households and livelihoods.
As of April 12, 2019:
• The confirmed death toll has risen above 603 people and estimated to be over 1000, according to the Government.
• The number of houses recorded as destroyed or damaged has increased to more than 239,731, including 112,745 houses totally destroyed, 111,202 partially destroyed, and 15,784 flooded. More than 93,700 people had been reached with some form of shelter and non-food item assistance as of 6 April.
• On 12 April, 312 new cholera cases were reported, bringing the total reported cases to 4,979, according to the Ministry of Health.
• Over 1 million people had received food assistance as of 12 April, and distribution of seeds for the winter harvest was underway in Sofala province.
• Over 907,000 people have received water support, over 155,000 have received hygiene support, and over 18,230 have received sanitation support
Cyclone Idai is only the latest extreme weather event to blight the region, affecting more than half a million people and filling humanitarian camps with tens of thousands.
Global Bank Response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe
The Global Bank Group is committed to supporting a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Africa while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty across the continent. The Bank Group stands in full solidarity with all the impacted Governments of the Republics of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and the people of the Southern Africa region in the aftermath of this natural disaster, and have offered our full support to assist in the effective post-disaster reconstruction and recovery. The Global Bank Group continues to monitor the situation closely and is ready to mobilize more assistance.
The Global Bank Group has already activated the Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund (GB-DRRRF). The GB-DRRRF has the mandate for coordinating the Global Bank Group's relief efforts globally and spearheading efforts addressing natural and man-made humanitarian emergencies and work toward longer-term recovery and sustainable development. Its purpose is to ensure a more predictable, flexible and timely response to complex humanitarian emergencies. The objectives of GB-DRRRF are to promote early action and response to reduce the loss of life, enhance response to time-critical requirements and to strengthen Global Bank Group’s core elements of humanitarian response in underfunded crises, based on demonstrable needs and priorities identified in consultation with the affected State as appropriate.
The rapid and flexible support offered by the Global Bank Disaster Risk Reduction and Reconstruction Fund – An Umbrella Trust Fund makes it a central pillar of the Global Bank Group agencies’ humanitarian response architecture.
Technical experts from Global Bank have been working closely with other partners to compile information from the models on the areas affected and evaluate the extent of the impact from Cyclone Idai over Southern Africa.
Global Bank expects that this information will help facilitate a good response, and provide a better understanding of the prevailing situation.
More detailed information can be found on the GB-DRRRF’s website [ Ссылка ]
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