Aftermath of Cyclone Chido: Concerns of food insecurity increase among survivors
By Benjamim Capito – Communications Coordinator
Chira and his household of seven, including children, now sleep in the yard surrounded by scattered belongings and debris of a fallen house, ever since tropical cyclone Chido made landfall in Memba, Northern Province of Nampula, leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Like the many inhabitants of his community, Chira had to flee his home during the impact of the cyclone, which blew winds of approximately 260 kilometers per hour, bringing heavy rainfalls of about 250 millimeters in 24 hours, according to the National Institute of Meteorology.
"I've never seen anything like this here in my community. It is the first time in my life", said the father of three, recounting the events of December 15. He stood powerless as the heavy storm brought down the walls and rooftop of his house.
Before the event, the family received an early warning of an imminent cyclone from the local Disaster and Risk Reduction Committees. "When the storm began, we took no time and quickly rushed to a neighbor's house to protect ourselves," he said.
Of the many personal belongings, damaged or lost, the main concern is the waste of food rations, mainly comprised of dried Cassava.
"Due to heavy rains, our Cassava was wet and is not suitable for consumption. Our food is not enough, and in these difficult days, I rely on my brother-in-law, who provides us with some crops," he lamented.
Still, in the same community, Marcelino and his family of eight are at odds with the uncertainty of the days to come. The semblance of despair speaks volumes in this mournful atmosphere.
"Providing food for my family is the most difficult task these days. Because of the rain, we have lost our Cassava, including our plates, clothes, and furniture", said Marcelino, who moved to his son-in-law's house.
Another member of the community, Silvana, says that the household can hold on with the remaining for only a few days. The family relies on seasonal fruits, like mangoes, to supply the needs.
"We are trying to survive, and we need help with resources to restore our home. My sister supports me, but the food is not enough, especially for the children," she said in distress. Like many of her fellow villagers, Silvana built the family house with profit from the sale of groundnuts, cultivated on her machamba (farmland). Now it is in shambles.
According to the Emergency Operations Center, in Memba alone, the cyclone was responsible for two deaths and destroyed around 3,682 houses affecting over 22,000 people. The early assessment indicates that the survivors need urgent agricultural inputs and shelter materials to recover their normal way of life.
World Vision Mozambique is starting the distribution of shelter and kitchen kits to three communities impacted by the cyclone and hopes to mitigate the burden , Chira, Marcelino and other members of the community are going through, however, a lot more is required due to the needs that are greater than the available support.
Therefore, a Platform of Humanitarian Partners comprising humanitarian organizations World Vision Mozambique, Plan International, ADRA, and CARE, combined efforts aiming to assist more than 100,000 people stricken by Cyclone Chido and need to secure around 18 million dollars to enable interventions and thus ensure urgent provision of food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection.