Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique leaving devastated communities in its wake as the storm barrelled across the country and into Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Over 2.6 million people have been affected by what the United Nations says is among the worst weather-related disasters ever recorded in the southern hemisphere.
Hundreds have been confirmed dead, with the death toll expected to rise in the coming days and weeks. Catastrophic flooding has left thousands of people cut off, desperate for rescue and humanitarian aid.
Islamic Relief is currently focusing our emergency response on Malawi, where we are already helping those affected by flooding and heavy rains which began earlier this month. Conditions in parts of the country already in the grip of an emergency were already dire, and deteriorating fast. The powerful cyclone has made it even worse.
Storm surge floods of up to six metres deep have devastated an enormous area in Malawi, say the World Food programme. Over a dozen districts have been hit by the disaster. Over 922,000 people have been affected, tens of thousands have been forced from their homes, and over 170 camps are occupied by displaced people.
Islamic Relief is now responding to Cyclone Idai by scaling up its existing emergency activities in Malawi and will distribute much-needed food and other vital supplies.
Original source: Islamic Relief
Published on 22 March 2019
