THE SITUATION
In March 2019, cyclone Idai slammed into Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe with speeds of more than 200 kilometers per hour, causing severe damage. One month after Idai, a second storm hit northern Mozambique while the country was still recovering from cyclone Idai. More than 600 people died and 1,600 were injured during the unprecedented disasters of cyclones Idai and Kenneth.
It is the first time in recorded history that two strong tropical cyclones have hit the country during the same season. The impact of the cyclones has also negatively affected nutrition, health, education, livelihoods, water and sanitation.
Almost one year after the storms, the situation only looks marginally better. Aid organizations such as CARE have reached more than 300,000 people with vital help: food, clean water and emergency shelter. But for many, the needs seem to have multiplied.
An estimated 2.5 million people, almost 10% of the population, rely on humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations. More than 1.6 million people don't have enough food—a number that is expected to increase in the coming months. More than 100,000 continue to live in makeshift shelters and are alarmingly vulnerable to future climate shocks.
CARE'S RESPONSE
CARE places a special emphasis on women and girls as they are particularly vulnerable in times of crisis, but also possess great potential to help their community overcome tragedy.
As part of its humanitarian response to the cyclones, CARE is distributing drought-resistant seeds, which include sorghum, cowpea, ground nuts, pineapple seedlings, maize and millet, to more than 36,000 small scale farmers in regions where crops were destroyed by the storms in Mozambique. CARE is also providing basic training in improved agricultural practices that present benefits to farmers and land along traditional practices. These techniques will help communities combat the effects of climate change going forward.