What is the situation in Mozambique after Cyclone Idai & Cyclone Kenneth?

Cyclone Idai caused significant damage in Mozambique, killing 603 people. It was followed by Cyclone Kenneth, which caused further displacement and destruction. Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique in March 2019 and subsequent flooding, rain and devastating winds, forced up to 400,000 people to flee their homes.

Cyclone Kenneth, a Category 3 Cyclone, struck the coast of northern Mozambique. The number of affected people reached 254,750 and the official death toll is 45 people, and more than 45,000 houses affected, partially or totally destroyed.

Latest data shows a slight increase in displaced population numbers across 68 sites. Humanitarian partners continue to engage with the Government to call for safe, dignified, voluntary and informed population movements. This has included initiatives such as community consultations to determine the intentions and preferences of families displaced by the cyclone and living in accommodation centres.

With health structures damaged, access to health services in the cyclone-affected areas remains a challenge. Coordination efforts are ongoing with health infrastructure partners to support health facility rehabilitation in the most affected facilities and ensure provision of basic health services to populations.

Access to health services remains a challenge across some cyclone-affected areas as health structures are damaged or destroyed and reconstruction is still ongoing. There continues to be limited access to basic health services. There are ongoing efforts and coordination with the Government to continue the provision of mobile clinic services, supporting surveillance and addressing provision and availability of basic health services in the resettlement areas. A number of health structures remain damaged and some mobile services are currently being provided. A working group on health access has been established by humanitarian and government actors to identify solutions to ensuring access to insecurity areas.

With a shift in focus towards the recovery phase, actors are prioritising health access for the increasing numbers of affected and displaced populations in the resettlement areas. In addition, there is a focus on providing nutrition services to address moderate and severe malnutrition

Since the two cyclones occurred there has been an increase in security incidents, but none directly targeting humanitarian personnel. There is ongoing insecurity within Mozambique, but the operating environment remains permissible for humanitarian actors. There has been an increasing intensity of attacks in Cabo Delgado since January 2019, with attacks reported in the districts of Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Macomia, Nangade, Quissanga, Muidumbe, Meluco and Ibo. Militants have used explosives, machetes and firearms to conduct lethal attacks, including attacks on vehicles. There have been over 20 attacks in the first five months of 2019. In January 2019, militants attacked the village of Mussemuco, Ibo District, arriving by sea and burning homes. And on 28 May, 16 people were killed when militants attacked a vehicle in Macomia, using explosives and firearms. There are increasing reports of an insecurity, including unofficial road blocks, and there are regular clashes between insurgents, vigilante groups, and Mozambican security forces.  Infrastructure within the main response areas remains limited, and humanitarian organisations must be self-sufficient.

The updated UN-led Humanitarian Response Plan revision is nearing completion. At the same time, longer-term development funding is being released, and program design is increasingly reflecting a new phase in the response. Implementation of rehabilitation activities continues to be a priority and needs to be accelerated to move services provided in tents back into buildings. Before the two cyclones, 80 percent of households considered livestock rearing as their main source of income, which has not been possible for many households since the two cyclones. Since the devastation of two cyclones and the ongoing drought, many communities are now financially insecure. Response activities are now shifting to address these longer-term, issues.

For populations in the resettlement areas, vulnerabilities remain in accessing basic health services. Severe acute malnutrition and surveillance of pellagra cases continue to be reported. Weekly malaria cases reported in Cyclone Idai affected districts are decreasing, with cumulative 117,948 cases registered between 27 March and 11 August 2019.

Basic health services continue to be provided from tents in districts of Ibo, Quissanga, Mucojo and Macomia. Weekly malaria cases in Cyclone Kenneth affected districts continue to increase, with cumulative 60,180 cases registered.

Response actors are continuing to work to address the gaps and challenges in the provision and availability of health services at resettlement sites. At the same time, a concerted effort is required to improve health information management systems and increase quality and frequency of reporting from health facilities.

Humanitarian Advisors recommend ongoing monitoring and analysis of reported severe acute malnutrition cases and continue efforts to ensure completeness of nutrition data; continue monitoring malaria case trends; strengthen community-based surveillance mechanisms; continue ongoing cholera surveillance and mitigation activities; and support ongoing rehabilitation activities damaged health infrastructure. Humanitarian Advisors encourages all health actors to take this opportunity, as part of response and development programming, to strengthen overall health information and data management services.