CAFOD joins DEC appeal for Cyclone Idai victims

CAFOD has joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help hundreds of thousands of people in Southern Africa devastated by Cyclone Idai. The cyclone swept through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe last weekend, killing hundreds of people and affecting an estimated 2.6 million people.

CAFOD's Director, Christine Allen, says:

"The more we see and hear of the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai, the more shocking is the devastating impact on the lives of children, women and men. Reports from the ground tell us of entire villages submerged and whole families missing. But there are still lives to be saved and communities who need our help. We cannot waste any time reaching those in urgent need. We've already seen how the Catholic community has responded, here in England and Wales and through our global church network. CAFOD has made an initial £100,000 pledge for Mozambique and £50,000 for Zimbabwe, but much more will be needed as the disaster unfolds. This money will help families who have lost everything to survive the coming days. Knowing they are not alone will give them hope."

Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi on 14/15 March. In central Mozambique, the cyclone brought winds of up to 140 km/h, torrential rains and a tidal surge which cut off several villages. Beira City, where almost 90 per cent of the city was submerged, was one of the worst-hit areas.

Gabriel Bertani, CAFOD's Country Representative for Mozambique, lived in the country for many years and is now returning to support local church partners. He says:

"I know the areas affected by this terrible disaster. These communities were already struggling day-to-day, and this cyclone will be crushing. We know that Idai has wiped out crops and livestock, damaged water supplies and wrecked sanitation facilities, leaving vulnerable families even more exposed. With the support and generosity of the Catholic community, we can reach the people who really need urgent emergency aid."

Severe flooding has also affected areas of eastern Zimbabwe. Landslides have washed away bridges, and there have been reports of 600mm of rain falling in 24 hours. At least 9,000 people need humanitarian aid, including clean and safe water, basic shelter, and food, but many districts remain inaccessible, so this number is expected to rise.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malawi called for support this week:

"While we struggle together to respond to the disaster which has befallen us, we appeal to all Catholics and people of good will, donor agencies and our International development partners to spare the little they might have to support our brothers and sisters who are trapped in this catastrophic condition."

Links:

www.dec.org.uk/

https://cafod.org.uk/Give/Donate-to-Emergencies/Cyclone-Idai-Appeal