Hurricane kills thousands in Southern Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi – 19/03/2019

According to the United Nations (UN), three countries in southern Africa are currently experiencing the worst humanitarian disaster in its history. Since March 15, cyclone Idai has hit the entire region with floods that have destroyed roads, hospitals, homes and power lines. At least 1,700,000 people were on Cyclone Idai Road in Mozambique and another 920,000 were affected in Malawi. In Zimbabwe, at least 15,000 people were affected and around 20,000 homes were damaged. This "mbadive disaster" began late last week, when Cyclone Idai hit the city of Beira, Mozambique, with winds of 177 km / hour that overflowed rivers.

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"We are facing a humanitarian disaster of enormous proportions," said Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. At least a thousand people have died in this country, while there have been only 84 deaths in Beira and surrounding areas and more than 100,000 people are in need of urgent help. In the Mozambican province of Beira, the banks of the Buzi River have spilled over, reaching heights of up to six meters and extending over 50 km wide, "People are still trapped", said Governor Manuel Rodrigues, in the neighboring province of Manica. in Mozambique.

For several days, "people have taken refuge on the roof of their homes without food or help," said Rodrigues, who toured the area by helicopter.

In Zimbabwe, the government said that there were more than 98 dead and 200 missing. The country's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said the government was trying to arrive with relief and restoration missions.

The NGO Save the Children fears for the lives of 100,000 people in Mozambique, where at least 600,000 people are at risk.

"The magnitude of this disaster is increasing every minute and we are very concerned about the children and families who are still threatened by the flood that continues to increase," warned the coordinator of the disaster. Save the Children intervention in Mozambique. , Machiel Pouw.

According to this British NGO, the effects of the floods that the country has experienced since the beginning of the month were amplified by the cyclone that reached northern Mozambique on March 15, leaving behind houses, schools, hospitals and infrastructure . destroy. "

The World Food Program (WFP) Regional Director for Southern Africa, Lola Castro, said the hurricane was an "unprecedented disaster" in the south-east of the continent.

"We estimate that about 600,000 people need help in Mozambique," said Castro, who explained that in cities like Beira, one of the largest in the country and devastated in his country. almost all food is transported by helicopter.

According to WFP figures, 920,000 people would be affected in Malawi and 15,000 in Zimbabwe. The organization therefore asks its international partners $ 14 million (about 12.3 million euros) for badistance to Mozambique and $ 10.3 million. (€ 9.07 million) for Malawi.

The UN and its humanitarian partners in Mozambique have called for a fundraising of $ 40.8 million (about 36 million euros) to provide urgent badistance to this country.

For its part, Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday called on foreign governments and regional leaders to increase their efforts and available resources to speed up relief operations.

The cyclone also destroyed many fields, just as these countries were preparing for harvest, which can have serious consequences for the region's food security.

Sources: EFE agencies, AP, AFP