Cyclone Idai in Mozambique - Emergency Response Unit of the Canadian Red Cross 2019

April 2019 – On March 15 2019 Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique before continuing inland to Zimbabwe and Malawi causing substantial loss of life and injury. The cyclone resulted in severe damage to infrastructure shelter water sanitation and hygiene facilities and thousands of hectares of standing crops. An estimated three million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the region. With GAC’s support the Canadian Red Cross deployed a Health Emergency Response Unit (ERU) to Mozambique to enhance health services within affected communities. The ERU is helping to meet the immediate needs of up to an estimated 5000 direct beneficiaries. Health services that are being provided include emergency obstetric and newborn care general surgery internal medicine sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial support.

The expected outcome for this project is the effective and timely delivery of health services for communities within the Nhamatanda district Mozambique. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.