By RFIPalled on 03-23-2019Modified on 23-03-2019 at 19:33
Cyclone Idai's interim record in Mozambique and Zimbabwe has further increased to at least 675 deaths. Humanitarians are now worried about the risk of epidemics. RFI is in Beira, a ravaged coastal city.
The situation on site is still very precarious, even if the main axes were cleared, that the inhabitants quickly mobilized to try to clean their city, Beira always offers an apocalyptic spectacle. As for the province of Sofala, it is still largely under water: we saw from the plane expanses of water and brown mud as far as the eye can see.
→ RELIRE: Mozambique: the scale of the disaster brings the UN to sound the alarm
Nevertheless, from a logistic point of view the situation is improving. Electricity has returned in places, communications also, although there are still significant cuts. Humanitarian aid begins to arrive at the airport. Three Indian Navy ships also unloaded food containers at the port of Beira. This aid can not come out at the moment, because the customs services have not been set up yet, but it should be done by Monday.
UNHCR works with governments and humanitarian aid partners in #Mozambique, #Zimbabwe and #Malawi to help survivors of #CycloneIdai on the east coast of southern Africa on March 14-15 . https://t.co/DCctPdI1cL
UNHCR (@Le_HCR) 23 March 2019The big challenge now is to reach the people. The waters are starting to come down again and families do not want to leave their homes. Humanitarians have therefore given up organizing a large camp where victims would come to find help, but have made the choice to bring food, water and medicine in the surrounding localities. Distribution centers should be set up as soon as possible.
→ RELIRE: Mozambique: 15,000 people still at risk after Hurricane Idai
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