Cyclone Idai smashed into the coast of Mozambique last Friday (15 March 2019). The weather system had been building and moving across south-east Africa for over a week, causing floods and destruction in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. At least 2.6 million people have been affected. According to the UN it could be the southern hemisphere’s worst ever disaster.
Barnabas Fund has sent
£53,400 ($70,000; €62,000) for medical aid
£26,700 ($35,000; €31,000) to feed 12,000 people for a month
£1,900 ($2,500; €2,200) for 500 body bags
In Mozambique, around 1.7 million people were in the path of the cyclone, and the president estimates a death toll of 1,000. Countless houses and churches have been damaged; those made of mud have simply disappeared. In the port town of Beira, 90% of the buildings are damaged or destroyed. An Anglican Mozambican bishop has appealed urgently for food, water and shelter as well as mosquito nets to protect the newly homeless from disease.
In Zimbabwe, crops were washed away – a catastrophe in a country that was already in food crisis and expecting a poor harvest in April-May. Now there will be no harvest at all in many parts. Zimbabwean Christian ministries are requesting funds from Barnabas for medical supplies, body bags and food (maize meal, beans and cooking oil).
We are working with our Christian partners across south-east Africa to help Christians affected by Cyclone Idai.
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