Cyclone Idai Appeal

On Friday 15 March, Cyclone Idai made landfall through Beira, Mozambique, causing widespread devastation and flooding. In the aftermath of the disaster, an estimated 1.5 million children are in need of urgent humanitarian aid across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Hundreds of people have died, with many more injured or missing, and an estimated 400,000 people have lost their homes. Across the region, thousands of children are in need of shelter, hygiene products, medicine and health care. As well as dealing with the trauma of their experiences, children are living without power and clean water, putting them at risk of cholera and diarrhoeal diseases.

Plan International was one of the first charities on the ground to respond, providing urgent humanitarian support including access to food, shelter, clean water and sanitation. We’ve already responded with life-saving essential supplies, including safe drinking water, blankets, shelter kits, mosquito nets and water containers. But there are still many more children and their families we need to reach with emergency support.

Cyclone Kenneth

WE ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION

On 25 April 2019, Cyclone Kenneth made landfall in northern Mozambique, the second cyclone to hit the country in just over a month.

Cyclone Kenneth is estimated to bring heavy rainfall, with flash flooding and landslides. Tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated from high risk areas, and there have been reports of death and injury in the affected areas. Our staff are still on the ground, supporting communities as they rebuild in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai which ravaged the area in March 2019. We will be closely monitoring the impact of Cyclone Kenneth as it unfolds.

A mother and child living in a school which is being used as a shelter in Mozambique.

An update from Beira, Mozambique

People’s property, food and livelihoods have been swept away. They are worried about how they are going to survive, how they are going to get their lives back.

Gerald Magashi, Director of Operations for Plan International Mozambique, describes the situation in Beira in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.

Mozambique

In Mozambique the death toll has risen to 202, but could rise to hundreds or thousands as the full extent of the disaster becomes known. At least 600,000 people are affected across five provinces.

“Emergencies often cause already fragile water and sanitation systems to break down or become damaged. [They] put girls and young women in particular in a very vulnerable situation. Also, lack of access to clean water increases the likelihood of an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera,” says Anne C Hoff, Country Director for Plan International Mozambique.

Malawi

Heavy, non-stop rain in early March had already severely affected most parts of the Southern Region of Malawi. Cyclone Idai is now known to have caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of children and girls are in need of emergency shelter and aid.

“We will start responding in Mulanje district by providing lifesaving needs in the priority sectors of food, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and shelter," says Daniel Muchena, Country Director of Plan International Malawi.

Munashe, 14, on her way to collect water for her family

Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, more than a hundred people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced across the affected region. Eight bridges have been destroyed in the Chimanimani district, making the area inaccessible by road.

“Our immediate concern is for the women and children who are now cut off from assistance due to the damage affecting most roads, making it impossible to travel. The heavy rains continue to pound the affected areas putting them at higher risk," says Angela Muriithi, Country Director of Plan International Zimbabwe.

HOW YOUR DONATIONS ARE HELPING

Thanks to your support so far:

Health — *1,654 households*
in Malawi have chlorine for treating water, to reduce the risk of water borne diseases

Water illustration — *1,654 households*
in Malawi have chlorine for treating water, to reduce the risk of water borne diseases

Women receive Plan International WASH kits in Malawi — Women receive Plan International water, sanitation and hygiene kits in Malawi

Our response on the ground

Our colleagues are co-ordinating closely with the national governments, partners and other humanitarian organisations in all three countries to ensure we identify and address the needs of families affected by this disaster.

We are focusing on the safety, security and needs of children, especially girls and young women – including expectant and breastfeeding mothers – and our team will work to ensure those affected get the life-saving support they need.