The storm's impact is particularly hard on children, who are now at greater risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and malaria.

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), along with its partners, is working to provide emergency relief in the affected areas. Guy Taylor, UNICEF’s Chief of Advocacy, Communication and Partnerships in Mozambique, provided an update from Maputo, emphasising the gravity of the situation. “The cyclone's winds were nearly 200km per hour, and in just 24 hours, over 250 millimetres of rain fell, leading to significant flooding and damage to land. Key infrastructure, including schools, clinics, and power supplies, has been destroyed,” he said.

Children, already facing high rates of malnutrition, are most at risk, with over 3.4 million in urgent need of aid even before the cyclone. “The danger of diseases like cholera and diarrhoea is very real, and these illnesses can be fatal within hours,” Taylor warned. He stressed the urgency of restoring health services and distributing essential supplies, including food, water purification kits, and shelter materials.

UNICEF had pre-positioned supplies to prepare for the cyclone, including educational materials and temporary shelters. They also activated early warning systems to help communities prepare, but ongoing flooding and road closures have hampered access to the worst-hit areas.

This is the third cyclone to strike Mozambique this season, and while UNICEF’s efforts in building resilient infrastructure are helping, the ongoing crisis is placing immense strain on resources.  

--ChannelAfrica--