ReliefWeb

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Description of the disaster

Tropical Cyclone Idai affected over 1.8 million people, according to the National Institute for Crisis Management (INGC). Landfalls on the city of Beira affected especially the Sofala, Zambezia, Tete and Manica provinces. In these provinces alone, 140,000 people people were displaced and sheltered in 143 accommodation centers. The latest IOM’s Situation Report (19th July-31st August) indicate 66 relocation sites are still open hosting 80,190 individuals (16,665 households).

Tropical Cyclone Kenneth made landfall through the Cabo Delgado Province on 25 April. The winds hit especially Macomia and Ibo districts. This resulted in 286,282 people directly affected. ACAPS reports mentioned approximately 45,000 houses partially or destroyed. 4 accommodation centers have been set-up to accommodate 881 households, and additional relocation sites are hosting a considerable number of displaced households.

Amidst the cyclones, the Government of Mozambique declared an outbreak of Cholera in late March, after detection of 5 cases amongst 2,500 cases of watery diarrhea. The disease quickly escalated and by mid-April, 6,382 cholera cases were reported in 4 districts in Sofala: Buzi,
Nhamatanda, Dondo and Beira. A mass vaccination was set in motion under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and WHO, covering 98.6% of the targeted population. The spread of the outbreak was contained, and last case reported on 18 May.

The impact of the cyclones is overwhelming over the populations. Mozambique is experiencing its worst food insecurity emergency since the 2015/16 drought, with an atypically high number of households in need of food assistance. This is the result of the destruction of agricultural lands by the cyclones with associated torrential rainfall and severe flooding in an area that is the country´s barn. The communities targeted by this operation have also not been spared from these shocks. According to the UN Humanitarian Country Team, three months after the cyclones hit, more than half a million people (100,000 households) are reportedly still living in destroyed or structurally damaged homes, sheltered in resettlement sites or remain displaced in emergency accommodation. Many of these locations are unsafe, inadequately prepared, and lack access to fundamental basic goods and services. This situation may deteriorate with the rainy season expected to start in November, if relief preparedness operations are not kept at the necessary level.