Voucher programme aids cyclone victims

THE UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) have launched a voucher programme in Mozambique to address the household needs of vulnerable families affected by Cyclone Idai in March.

The programme, which started this month, will run until October and will benefit 100 000 people a month.

Participating families receive a monthly voucher, worth 2 670 meticals (R670), distributed by partner organisation Food for the Hungry, and can be redeemed at seven shops in Dondo and Nhamatanda.

Families can buy food, hygiene and household items, including rice, oil, lentils, frozen fish and chicken, as well as soap, sanitary towels, buckets, cooking pots, clothes and blankets.

Emergency response co-ordinator for WFP in Beira, Peter Rodrigues, said: “By working together to provide vouchers for food, hygiene and household items, WFP and Unicef are able to help households buy and prioritise what items are most essential for them and their families.

“Having this level of choice is important because the needs of families in these areas remain significant.”

As part of the first-line response to Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth, Unicef and its partners focused on direct distributions of hygiene items, such as soap and water containers, to the most affected communities, with a priority on families living in accommodation centres and resettlement sites.

To date, Unicef has provided hygiene kits to more than 120 000 people.

Unicef’s Beira team leader, Eimar Barr, said: “Thankfully, markets in much of Dondo and Nhamatanda districts are now fully restored, especially those close to commercial centres.

“This allows Unicef to move to a voucher approach in these areas so families can choose the hygiene and household items they need most.

“However, in rural and difficult-to-reach areas with limited functional markets, Unicef will continue to support families in kind.”