Cyclone Idai: six months on

As the flood waters rose, Paulo was trapped in his home. Cyclone Idai was tearing through his village in Mozambique.

The 35-year-old lost a leg when he was a soldier and uses a crutch to help him walk. He survived the cyclone after some friends carried him to a neighbour’s home. His house later collapsed and he lost his crops: millet, maize, and wheat.

It’s six months since Cyclone Idai brought strong winds and widespread flooding to Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

It ripped apart roads, bridges, houses, schools and health facilities and submerged vast areas of farming land.

It’s estimated three million people were affected. Close to 1,000 deaths were recorded and many more were injured. People lost homes, possessions, livelihoods and hope.

Tearfund staff and partners responded immediately.

As of today, 68,871 people have received much-needed food supplies and a further 50,000 have received essential items such as chlorine tablets, soap, jerry cans and buckets. 

Paulo was helped by partner CEDES who organised a distribution of food and other essentials. He said, ‘I’m going to have food now, good food, to eat well. Before [the distribution] I was not eating good food.’

Jennipher Sakala, who leads Tearfund’s work in southern and east Africa, says: ‘Thanks to the generosity of Tearfund supporters, we were quickly able to work with our partners to get help to affected communities. 

‘But we still have a lot more to do. We will continue to help communities rebuild what was destroyed. Thank you for your continued support both financially and through prayer.’

PLEASE PRAY

Gracious Father,

Thank you for the work of all those who are providing essential supplies and support after Cyclone Idai. Please continue to heal the sick, comfort the brokenhearted, and provide for those who are still in desperate need. We lift up the people of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe and ask that you will give them your hope – a strong and lasting hope.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.