CAFOD responds as Cyclone Idai leaves deadly floods across Mozambique and Zimbabwe

In Beira, Mozambique Cyclone Idai washed away part of main road. Many communities are cut off by flooding

CAFOD has pledged £30,000, in response to the devastation that Cyclone Idai has left in its wake across Mozambique. On 14 to 15 March, Cyclone Idai made landfall in central Mozambique, near Beira City, Sofala Province. The Cyclone brought torrential rains and winds of up to 140 km/h, and a tidal surge has cut off several villages in the area.

CAFOD's Country Representative for Mozambique, Gabriel Bertani said: "There is concern for the many people cut off by the floods. Their basic needs will be clean and safe drinking water, food, medicines and shelter."

Working with our local Caritas experts, rapid assessments are already underway in some of the worst affected area - Beira, Dondo, and Caia, where the priority is to reach 1,400 vulnerable people, with food - rice, beans, sugar and cooking oil, as well as hygiene kits.

Bertani explains the importance of acting quickly and getting aid to where it's needed, saying: "Powerful Cyclones like Idai damage water supplies and sanitation facilities which increases the risk of water borne diseases spreading. In the low-lying areas, flood waters have caused widespread damage to crops and livestock, leaving people with very limited food for their daily needs."

It is not clear how many people have died since the storm hit. The UN currently say that flooding has killed at least 122 people, and estimates that 80,000 people have been made homeless.

Cyclone Idai has caused large-scale power and communications outages and has shut down road and transport networks.

The storm has also affected areas of eastern Zimbabwe. The local Caritas aid agency, is already planning rapid assessments, in the Chimanimani and Chipinge area, where the initial needs assessment have identified more than 9,600 people affected by the cyclone. There have been landslides, washing away bridges. In Chimanimani , 600mm of rain was reported to have fallen in 24 hours. CAFOD's team on the ground say that the immediate needs are clean and safe water, basic shelter, food and household kitchen ware and utensils. CAFOD will be providing initial assistance as the needs assessments come in.