Cyclone Idai hit the coast of Mozambique overnight on Thursday. The city of Beira, with a population of more than 500,000, was directly affected by winds of 110 to 120 mph accompanied by torrential rains.
The death toll and the extent of the destruction is not yet known, as communication lines and electricity have been cut off and large areas remain inaccessible.
The United Nations expects considerable damage to homes and schools, the destruction of hundreds of thousands of acres of crops, which will lead to food shortages among the most vulnerable populations, and problems accessing isolated areas due to flooding and damaged roads. The risk of disease outbreak is also considered to be high, with the presence of unsafe water.
Humanity & Inclusion is already working with the most vulnerable populations in the affected city, Beira, and we are concerned for our beneficiaries and their families. We are currently putting our emergency plans into action, and will reinforce the team with emergency expertise in the coming days.
This cyclone adds to an existing critical situation in Mozambique. The center and north of the country have been subjected to heavy rains for several weeks: more than 140,000 people have already been affected, with 17,000 displaced, and at least 60 killed.
Humanity & Inclusion in Mozambique
Humanity & Inclusion has been working in Mozambique since 1986. Currently, our teams are working to promote the rights and social participation of people with disabilities, support civil society to improve the social inclusion of people with disabilities, and prevent the development of disabilities. Learn more about our work in Mozambique.