Southern African Tropical Cyclones

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Southern African Tropical Cyclones

In March and April, two cyclones stuck Mozambique within five weeks of each other causing massive flooding throughout the country. USAID has a team on the ground Mozambique working with UN and NGO partners to provide critical assistance to people in need.

CARE / Josh Estey

In March and April, two cyclones stuck Mozambique within five weeks of each other causing massive flooding throughout the country. USAID has a team on the ground Mozambique working with UN and NGO partners to provide critical assistance to people in need.

Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall over Mozambique between March 14 and 15, producing torrential rains and strong winds across the country, as well as in neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Cyclone Idai is now considered the worst natural disaster in southern Africa in nearly two decades. Approximately 900 square miles of land was covered in water – that’s an area larger than New York City and Los Angeles combined. The catastrophic flooding triggered by the storm has killed more than 600 people and nearly 1.9 million are in need of assistance.

On March 20, USAID deployed a DART to Mozambique to assess damage, identify priority needs, and work closely with partners to provide critical assistance to people in Mozambique. This elite team from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is comprised of: logisticians, and food security, shelter, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene experts. The DART is currently working with the World Food Program (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Health Organization (WHO), CARE, Catholic Relief Services, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, MENTOR initiative, FHI 360, Land O'Lakes, and World Vision to provide emergency shelter, food, health care,water, improved sanitation, and hygiene supplies.

Cyclone Kenneth struck Mozambique April 25. USAID has deployed a team to the affected area and is providing additional food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.

On May 17, USAID officially stood down its DART for Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. A small team of USAID disaster experts, supported by an enhanced USAID regional team, will remain in Mozambique to lead USAID’s response efforts and continue to work with our partners to provide life-saving assistance.

To date, the United States has provided nearly $99 million in humanitarian assistance to help people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi who have been affected by Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth, as well as flooding that occurred in early March.

 


HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING

Watch how USAID is responding to Cyclone Idai

WHAT WE'RE SAYING

What we're saying about the Cyclone Idai response

WHAT WE'RE SEEING

View the Cyclone Idai crisis response photo gallery
April 8, 2019

As of April 5, the official number of confirmed deaths in Mozambique remained constant at 598 and the number of injuries remained unchanged at more than 1,600, according to the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM). The GRM reports that approximately 129,800 people were sheltering in 129 accommodation sites in Manica, Sofala, Tete, and Zambézia provinces as of April 5. In addition, the number of homes damaged or destroyed by the cyclone has increased to more than 216,700, according to the GRM.

April 5, 2019

On March 15, Tropical Cyclone Idai — the worst natural disaster to hit southern Africa in two decades — made landfall over Mozambique, producing torrential rains and strong winds across the country, as well as in neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe. The cyclone caused catastrophic flooding, which has killed hundreds of people so far, and damaged or destroyed homes, farmland, and public infrastructure — including major roadways, bridges, and hospitals. Read how the United States is helping people affected by Cyclone Idai.

April 4, 2019

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Counselor Chris Milligan will travel to Maputo, Mozambique on April 5. While in Mozambique, Counselor Milligan will also visit Beira, one of the areas hit hardest by Cyclone Idai, and see the U.S. Government's response to the cyclone, which caused catastrophic flooding, killed hundreds of people, and affected hundreds of thousands of others in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.

April 4, 2019

On April 3, the U.S. Government (USG) announced nearly $33 million in additional assistance to populations affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The funding includes contributions to USAID/FFP partner the UN World Food Program (WFP) to provide life-saving food assistance to more than 1.6 million cyclone-affected people in both countries.

April 3, 2019

Today, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced nearly $33 million in additional humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs caused by Cyclone Idai and related flooding, including nearly $31 million for the people of Mozambique and over $2 million for the people of Zimbabwe.   

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