More than 1.5m people have been affected
Aid workers have described it as Mozambique’s worst humanitarian crisis since its 15-year civil war. Nearly a week after Tropical Cyclone Idai walloped the country’s central coast before churning inland, the full extent of the damage is still unclear. Beira, a port city of half a million people, was cut off after a massive storm hit on March 14-15th, bringing fierce winds and flooding that destroyed bridges, roads and power lines.
Filipe Nyusi, the president, called it a “disaster of great proportions” and described seeing bodies floating in rivers as he flew over the region by helicopter. Although the official death toll stands at 84, Mr Nyusi said that the number could rise to more than 1,000 fatalities.Red Cross workers reckon 90% of buildings in Beira were damaged or destroyed by the storm, and fear the situation may be worse still outside the city, where floodwaters have yet to recede.
As the storm moved inland, it also swamped southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe with heavy rains and violent winds. Chimanimani, in eastern Zimbabwe, was especially badly hit; it was cut off because of damage to roads. Zimbabwe’s government said 98 people had died and more than 200 were missing. Torrential rains continue to deluge the region, adding to the misery. In all, more than 1.5m people have been affected. Relief organisations are scrambling to help survivors.
A long-term recovery plan will also be needed. The flooding appears to have destroyed maize crops, raising the risk of hunger. In Zimbabwe, where the government declared a disaster, a drought has already left 5.3m people in need of food aid. With the waters slow to recede, diseases may fester. Repairing infrastructure will be costly. Schools and hospitals have been destroyed, along with bridges and roads.
Policymakers also need to prepare for the future. Low-lying coastal cities such as Beira are especially vulnerable to storms, which could worsen as climate change disrupts weather patterns. The destruction underscores the need for the authorities to invest in storm-protected infrastructure to better weather the next assault.
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