Commenting on the impact of Cyclone Freddy in Mozambique, Gaspar Sitefane, Country Director for ActionAid Mozambique, said:
“Communities in Mozambique are facing extremely heavy rainfall after cyclone Freddy passed through the region yesterday.
“Already facing flooding and high rates of waterborne diseases, including cholera, prior to the cyclone, this latest storm will push many people in Mozambique to the brink of survival as their homes and livelihoods are damaged beyond repair.
“ActionAid Mozambique is giving urgent assistance to people living there by providing food, water, sanitation, and hygiene kits, and making sure the closure of 90 schools does not impact on children’s education.”
Teresa Anderson, Global Lead for Climate Justice at ActionAid International, said:
“The reality is that climate change is bringing ever more frequent and intense cyclones, floods, and storms. This year’s cyclone season in the region has the potential to be deadly.
“When climate disasters strike, it is women, children, and girls who are hit the hardest. At the COP27 climate summit last year, rich nations made a historic agreement to start a loss and damage fund to help countries recover and rebuild when they are hit by severe weather events. Governments must now act to make this fund a reality and deliver for people on the frontlines of climate chaos who can’t wait any longer.’’
Cyclone Freddy is expected to hit Zimbabwe on Tuesday. ActionAid Zimbabwe is preparing to respond to the cyclone and will be supporting thousands of people who could be affected in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts, evacuating vulnerable people to shelters and ensuring people have essentials like food, blankets, tents, buckets, and masks. They will also be issuing cash transfers to women and young people. ActionAid Zimbabwe is anticipating an upsurge in cholera cases and will be providing leaflets and flyers to the community about cholera, as well as providing clean water to health facilities in areas most affected.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please email Jenna.Farineau@actionaid.org or call 202-777-3668.
Notes to editor
Spokespeople available:
- Gaspar Sitefane is the ActionAid Mozambique Country Director. Based in Maputo
- Marcia Cossa is the ActionAid Mozambique Director of Programs. Based in Maputo
- Esther Sharara is the ActionAid Southern Africa Regional Humanitarian Advisor. Based in Harare, Zimbabwe
About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation that works with more than 15 million people living in more than 40 of the world’s poorest countries. We want to see a just and sustainable world in which everyone enjoys the right to a dignified life and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work for social justice and gender equality, and poverty eradication.