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

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.