The world needs to step up support for the survivors of Tropical Cyclone Idai, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday,
in a strong personal appeal as relief workers rush to provide aid to people stranded across the storm countries in
southern Africa.
Describing how we was “deeply saddened by the loss of life and heart-wrenching images of human suffering” in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, António Guterres
also praised rescue teams “who have been working around the clock to save thousands of lives” in desperately challenging
conditions.
“These heroes have not only rescued families off roofs, but are also delivering food, water purification tablets and
other life-saving humanitarian assistance to survivors after communities have literally been washed away,” Mr. Guterres
said in a statement.
“What is needed now are funds to support the response in the days, weeks and months to come,” he insisted, noting that
although the UN has already released $20 million from its emergency fund, “far greater international support is needed.”
Echoing the UN chief’s comments, UN Children’s Fund Executive Director Henrietta Fore confirmed that the situation for
survivors of Idai remains “desperate.”
The UNICEF chief made her comments while visiting Mozambique, which was worst-hit by the flooding and devastation caused by 150
kilometre-per-hour winds.
Quoting her, UNICEF spokesperson Christophe Boulierac in Geneva said that “the situation on the ground remains critical and there is no electricity or running water. Hundreds of thousands of children need immediate help. The priority right
now is to give them shelter, food, water, education, protection.”
As the destructive scale of Idai unfolds – and with vast areas under water and search and rescue missions ongoing – the
UN has appealed for urgent assistance from the international community at a “crucial moment” in the humanitarian
response.
For Mozambique alone, the World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking more than $121 million to help 1.7 million people affected through the next three months.
Tragic toll set to rise with many areas still inundated
The official death toll in Mozambique has risen to at least 242 people, “but many areas remain inundated and tragically,
the counting of the dead will take some time,” said UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke.
“So, we do expect the death toll to rise as that progresses.”
In Zimbabwe, authorities have reported 139 deaths and 189 people missing following flooding and the cyclone, while more
than 4,300 people have been displaced.
Malawi was impacted far less by the cyclone than by flooding that began on 5 March, which has nonetheless affected up to
920,000 people.
Helicopters and boats crucial to humanitarian and rescue effort.
According to OCHA, 11 helicopters from the UN and other nations are involved in operations, and more are on the way.
Thirty boats are also involved in the humanitarian effort, funded by WFP.
In worst-hit Mozambique, according to OCHA, at least 65,000 people are sheltering in more than 100 temporary sites
across the provinces of Sofala (73), Manica (18), Zambezia (10) and Tete (4). Most people have found refuge in schools
and churches.
Food, safe drinking water and shelter are also urgently needed.