“The massive scale of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Idai is becoming clearer by the day,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore who visited storm-ravaged Beira, in Mozambique, last week. “The lives of millions of children and families are on the line, and we urgently need to mount a rapid and effective humanitarian response across all three countries.”
The situation on the ground is expected to get worse before it gets better as more cyclone-affected areas become accessible. There is also very little time to prevent the spread of opportunistic diseases. Current conditions – stagnant waters, lack of hygiene, decomposing bodies, overcrowding in temporary shelters – can easily lead to outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and cholera to which children are especially vulnerable.
UNICEF is also deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of women and children who are crammed in temporary shelters and at risk of violence and abuse, as well as children who have been orphaned or separated from their families because of the storm.
In Mozambique, the most affected country, 1.85 million people, including 1 million children. are in dire need of assistance. In Beira, there is critical infrastructure damage and heavy flooding in urban areas as the water has nowhere to drain. Floodwaters have damaged crops just before the harvest season with up to 50 per cent of Mozambique’s annual crop production destroyed.
In Malawi, more than 869,000 people, including 443,000 children, have been affected, with over 85,000 people displaced.
In Zimbabwe, more than 270,000 people have been affected, half of whom are children.
UNICEF is ramping up its response for affected children and families in each of the three countries, working to expand access to healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education services. The children’s agency and its partners are also focusing on preventing a spike in malnutrition, identifying children who may have been orphaned or separated from their families, and getting children back to school.
unicef
The situation on the ground is expected to get worse before it gets better as more cyclone-affected areas become accessible. There is also very little time to prevent the spread of opportunistic diseases. Current conditions – stagnant waters, lack of hygiene, decomposing bodies, overcrowding in temporary shelters – can easily lead to outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and cholera to which children are especially vulnerable.
UNICEF is also deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of women and children who are crammed in temporary shelters and at risk of violence and abuse, as well as children who have been orphaned or separated from their families because of the storm.
In Mozambique, the most affected country, 1.85 million people, including 1 million children. are in dire need of assistance. In Beira, there is critical infrastructure damage and heavy flooding in urban areas as the water has nowhere to drain. Floodwaters have damaged crops just before the harvest season with up to 50 per cent of Mozambique’s annual crop production destroyed.
In Malawi, more than 869,000 people, including 443,000 children, have been affected, with over 85,000 people displaced.
In Zimbabwe, more than 270,000 people have been affected, half of whom are children.
UNICEF is ramping up its response for affected children and families in each of the three countries, working to expand access to healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education services. The children’s agency and its partners are also focusing on preventing a spike in malnutrition, identifying children who may have been orphaned or separated from their families, and getting children back to school.
unicef
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