Oxfam responding to devastating Cyclone Idai

Following on from the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai in Southern Africa, Oxfam’s local humanitarian teams have been assessing the damage caused by this deadly weather event.

The most affected countries include Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, with estimations of 1,000 casualties at this early stage. This figure is likely to grow significantly as the real scale of the destruction is understood.

Mozambican flood victims have said that they had to pay to make the trip by canoe. Those that did not have the money remained behind.

People trudge through a muddied path to safer ground in Chimanimani, about 600 kilometers southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe. Credit: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP/REX

These rising numbers of people to internally displaced persons camps are already putting a strain on limited water supplies. 

There are additional concerns that sanitation will soon become a problem and food assistance will need to be brought in to provide extra immunity to the people affected.

Oxfam teams are assessing the needs of people in all three countries. They are reporting extensive damage to homes, crops, roads and bridges, and communications. 

Some areas have been rendered inaccessible because roads, bridges and phone lines have been washed away.

Oxfam teams will be prioritising shelter and sanitation as part of a large-scale evacuation of the worst affected areas. 

We urgently need your help to reach people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe who have been affected by Cyclone Idai. Please give what you can today. 100% of your donation will go to our emergency response.

The coming hours and days will be absolutely critical to our life-saving efforts. 

For more information , please contact:

• ROI: Nyle Lennon on 083 197 5107 / nyle.lennon@oxfam.org
• NI: Phillip Graham on 07841 102535 / phillip.graham@oxfam.org