Cyclone victims need international aid

ONE month after the devastating Cyclone Idai pounded Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, killing more than 1 000 people and with many more still missing and feared dead, and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, the international community needs to do more to help those affected, Amnesty International said.

Idai first made landfall during the night of March 14, leaving a trail of destruction across the three southern African countries.

Although the full impact of the cyclone wasn’t yet known, vital infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, sanitation facilities and communication networks were badly damaged, Amnesty International Southern Africa regional director Deprose Muchena said yesterday.

Thousands of hectares of crops nearing harvest were destroyed, raising fears of severe food insecurity in the months ahead.

“Cyclone Idai has left a trail of suffering, causing even more chaos in its aftermath. While international aid agencies and foreign and affected governments are racing against time to save more people, a lot more financial and technical resources are needed to ensure that people have access to the essential services they need,” Muchena said.

While the government-led humanitarian response in all three affected countries continued to scale-up, a massive gap remained in funds needed to mount the necessary response. Of about $390 million (R5.5 billion) required, only $88m had been received.

“It is clear that Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe cannot cope with the devastating aftermath on their own.

“While the international community has been sending assistance and aid, this is not enough to address the devastating impact of the cyclone. Providing more assistance is imperative to protect human rights,” Muchena added.

Thousands of cholera cases were reported in the three countries since Idai, resulting in a number of deaths after people drank contaminated water due to disruption of usual water treatment. Thousands had received treatment and a vaccination programme was in place. Thousands of cases of malaria, more than usual, had also been reported.

“Thousands of people are still struggling to meet their basic needs as they still face food shortages, health risks, and lack access to clean water as a result of damaged infrastructure. More international assistance is needed to ensure that people do not run out of essentials like food, drinking water, and medical supplies.

“People are at risk and need to be urgently protected, not only now, but also in the months to come when the effect of the cyclone will still be felt,” Muchena emphasised.

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA)