SADC launches regional appeal for humanitarian assistance in response to Cyclone Idai
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially launched a Regional Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance in response to tropical Cyclone Idai that heavily affected three of SADC member States -- Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
SADC Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax said the cyclone has been classified as one of the worst weather-related disasters ever experienced in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Due to the severe and devastating impacts of Tropical Cyclone Idai, about three million people require immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, clothing, potable water, sanitation and medical support,” she said at the official launch of the campaign in Windhoek, Namibia, on Thursday.
To date, more than 830 people were reported killed by the cyclone in the three affected countries, approximately 2,300 have been injured and nearly three million people have been displaced.
The Cyclone also resulted in extensive damage to economic and social infrastructure, which has immediate, medium-term and long-term consequences.
According to the SADC executive, more than 800,000 hectares of cropland and crops have been destroyed, which will further compound the already drought compromised food security situation in the affected countries.
"The cyclone also damaged road infrastructure and properties thereby impeding provision of assistance to the affected communities," Tax said.
She said that the envisaged assistance would compliment national resources and efforts in ensuring early recovery of the affected population who have lost everything, including their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Namibian President Hage G. Geingob promptly approved the allocation of US$500,000 to the affected member states to assist with immediate relief efforts.
The main objective of the humanitarian assistance is to save lives and provide the basic needs and services for survivors, protect human dignity, in particular for women and children, provide access to basic health and nutrition needs and services.
Noting the intensity and gravity of Cyclone Idai, the SADC Executive Secretary emphasised the need for collaborative efforts and support from partners to improve the region’s preparedness and enhance the capacity to respond to the negative impacts of climate change and other disasters.
“It is for this reason that I am launching the SADC Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance to save lives and alleviate human suffering of all the affected communities,” she said.
In declaring their national disasters in the aftermath of the cyclone, the affected SADC states have indicated the inadequacy of their internal resources to comprehensively address the situation.
“I wish to emphasise that through our joint efforts, in response to disasters in the past, we were able to overcome the challenges. While the disaster that we are faced with today is unprecedented, we are confident that, working collaboratively, we will again overcome and rebuild the lives of the affected communities and restore their dignity,” the SADC Executive Secretary said.
-0- PANA MS/AR 12Apr2019
