March 29, 2019 – Advance disaster response team in Africa to assist those affected by Cyclone Idai.
Heart to Heart International’s advance disaster response team deployed to Beira in Mozambique on Thursday, March 28. The team will be meeting with partners on the ground to assess needs and deliver medications and medical aid to those impacted by Cyclone Idai.
Cyclone Idai slammed into Beira on March 14, and has killed more than 750 people in three African nations. More than half a million people have been affected by this storm, including hundreds of thousands displaced and living in crowded and flooded camps.
“In the aftermath of this disaster, the world is realizing how grave the dangers are for those who have survived,” Kim Carroll, CEO, Heart to Heart International, said. “The conditions, unfortunately, are ideal for the widespread transmission of deadly diseases, but our teams are well-equipped and experienced working in these conditions and will be able to efficiently and effectively help people in desperate need.”
The HHI team will be completely self-sufficient, bringing its own water filtration systems, food, tents and other supplies.
March 26, 2019 – Advance disaster response medical team and humanitarian aid being sent to Mozambique to aid those affected by the devastating storm.
Cyclone Idai has killed more than 750 people across southern Africa, and the numbers of those killed, injured and displaced are continuing to rise. More than half a million people have been affected by this storm, which has turned fields into oceans and destroyed 90% of the city of Beira.
The high commissioner for Mozambique in the UK, Filipe Chidumo called Cyclone Idai “a big tragedy of biblical proportions.”
HHI’s disaster response advance team is preparing to travel to Mozambique this week to meet with organizations on the ground and determine the medical and humanitarian aid needs of those affected by Cyclone Idai.
Cholera cases have been reported and malaria has been increasing among those trapped by the flooding. Officials are warning that the situation for those affected will only worsen. Sanitation and hygiene are critical to stopping the spread of this deadly disease, so HHI has sent 3 tons of hygiene kits already and is preparing additional shipments of humanitarian relief and hygiene and menstrual health kits to be sent later this week.
Officials are calling this one of the worst natural disasters in southern Africa’s recent history.