Tropical Cyclone Freddy was a five-week-long storm that made landfall multiple times, striking Mozambique’s coast twice. The devastating storm was the longest lasting and most energetic tropical cyclone on record.
The Cyclone’s Destruction
The cyclone caused great destruction. Countless families’ homes were damaged or destroyed. Some 391,000 hectares (nearly 1 million acres) of crops were totally or partially destroyed, and water systems are now broken or contaminated.
Responding Quickly to Help Families
Food for the Hungry (FH) was already in this area working with communities. That access, coupled with generous donations to FH’s Children in Crisis, made it possible to respond exceptionally quickly and provide much-needed emergency food, hygiene items, and training, as well as rebuilding and recovery support for the children and families affected by this crisis.
FH is providing hygiene and sanitation training to 5,000 people, including specific information on the prevention of cholera and COVID-19; multi-purpose cash vouchers to meet the critical shelter needs of 700 vulnerable households, including families of 876 sponsored children whose homes were severely damaged; and vegetable seeds and agricultural equipment to help farmers recover.
Rebuilding and Replanting
FH’s initial efforts to provide food and emergency cash will run through June 2023. There is still a great deal of cleanup and rebuilding to be done in Mozambique. FH is currently continuing assessments and developing projects that will help families deal with long-term issues like cholera prevention and rehabilitation of their lost crops.
To help children and families affected by Cyclone Freddy, please consider a gift to FH’s Children in Crisis. Your generosity will allow us to continue walking alongside these families as they rebuild.
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