United Nations, .- The UN requested this Monday 282 million dollars in donations to finance during the next three months the aid to Mozambique after the passage of Cyclone Idai.
According to the humanitarian chief of the United Nations, Mark Lowcock, the priorities right now are to guarantee drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and improve food security in the medium term.
Lowcock, during a press conference, assured that several governments are already responding with money, but acknowledged that for now the necessary funds are much higher than those obtained.
According to the latest data, the cyclone has left at least 447 dead in Mozambique, to which are added about 300 more deaths between Zimbabwe and Malawi.
The UN plans to announce its requests for funds for humanitarian response in those two nations in the coming days.
In all three countries, heavy rains caused severe flooding, leaving areas totally isolated for days and causing significant destruction of basic infrastructure.
According to humanitarian organizations, conditions trigger the risk of diseases such as cholera.
It is estimated that the cyclone has directly affected almost 770,000 people, many of whom expect food, medicine, drinking water, sanitation systems and materials to build shelters.
According to the Government of Mozambique, more than 3,100 schools, attended by 90,000 students, have been destroyed, more than 33,500 homes are completely or partially destroyed, and 500,000 hectares of crops that were about to be harvested have been lost.
In neighboring Zimbabwe, where the cyclone arrived on March 15, private helicopters and area forces distribute food without pause to the communities of Chimanimani and Chipinge, the two most affected eastern districts of the country.
The assessment missions estimate that 37% of the population of Chipinge and 77% of Chimanimani need emergency food. (EFEUSA)
