U.N., U.S. Respond To Cholera Outbreak, Humanitarian Needs In Mozambique Following Cyclone Idai
Associated Press: Mozambique cyclone death toll up to 598; cholera spreads
“Authorities say the death toll in Mozambique from last month’s cyclone has risen to 598 while humanitarian workers race to contain a cholera outbreak in the storm’s wake. The World Health Organization says at least 1,052 cholera cases have been reported by Mozambique’s health ministry, including one death…” (4/2).
CNN: WHO steps up response as Cyclone Idai cholera cases skyrocket
“…Almost 1 million doses of oral cholera vaccine were due to arrive in the southeast African country Tuesday, according to the World Health Organization, in anticipation of a mass vaccination campaign throughout the coming days. Rob Holden, an incident manager with the WHO, told CNN from Mozambique that the teams were ready to begin the campaign as soon as the medical supplies arrives…” (McKirdy, 4/2).
Reuters: Hunger stalks Mozambique after deadly cyclone destroys farmland
“…Hundreds of rural communities were plunged into food crisis after Cyclone Idai tore through central Mozambique on March 14, humanitarian workers say. The government estimates that more than 700,000 hectares of agricultural land was flooded, leaving many farmers with nothing to harvest. … ‘Food-security-wise, it’s been devastating,’ the World Food Programme’s director for Southern Africa, Lola Castro, told Reuters at the airport in the cyclone-hit port city of Beira…” (Eisenhammer/Heiberg, 4/1).
VOA News: U.S. Addressing ‘Immediate’ Humanitarian Needs of Cyclone Idai Victims
“The U.S. Department of Defense has authorized up to $15 million in aid to areas of Mozambique devastated by Cyclone Idai, the U.S. Africa Command said Monday. USAID, the lead agency in charge of American aid to the crisis, had spent $6.2 million in relief as of March 31, officials told reporters Monday, adding that the current goal was to address the ‘immediate needs’ of thousands of victims…” (Sarai, 4/1).
Additional coverage of the response to Cyclone Idai is available from Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, and Bloomberg.
The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.