Mozambique cyclone: the emergency
continues
 |
| Mozambique effects of cyclone Idai (AFP) |
Médecins Sans Frontièrs (MSF) issues updates on the
situation in Mozambique following last month’s devastating cyclone that left
598 people dead and over one and a half million people in need of emergency
assistance.
By Vatican News
Cyclone Idai was just the beginning.
It hit Mozambique, on Africa’s southeast coast, on March 14th leaving
death and devastation in its wake. 90% of the city of Beira was destroyed.
People, homes, and livelihoods were swept away by the floodwaters. Now those
waters have started to recede, cholera is the next challenge that needs to be
dealt with.
Cholera epidemic
Médecins Sans Frontièrs, also known as Doctors Without
Borders, is an international humanitarian medical NGO that provides emergency
assistance in conflict zones and disaster areas around the world.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the organization
confirms some 1,400 cases of cholera across the country, with over 1,000 cases
in Beira alone. But MSF also warns of an increase in other waterborne diseases,
as well as malaria, skin infections and respiratory diseases.
To contain the cholera epidemic MSF is working with the
Mozambique Ministry of Health, setting up local treatment centres and clinics,
as well as helping to run a massive vaccination campaign. In addition to
cholera, the extensive damage to health infrastructure and medical supplies
still requires considerable effort to restore the functioning of the health
system and ensure that people are able to receive basic, maternal and child
care or for chronic diseases such as HIV and Tuberculosis.
Food crisis
Cyclone Idai was one of the worst tropical cyclones on
record to affect Southern Africa. When it swept inland last month, torrential
rainfall flooded over one and half million acres of fields, just as subsistence
farmers were about to harvest their crops.
That means the next crisis will likely be severe food
shortages. And hunger.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét