Children at risk after Cyclone Idai devastation

Friday, March 22, 2019

World Vision CEO Claire Rogers is flying to Mozambique amid growing concerns for children left orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable in the catastrophic devastation following Cyclone Idai.

“Thousands of children have lost their homes, and lack food and safe water,” Ms Rogers said.

“Children are at increased risk in disasters, especially when they have been separated from their families.” 

World Vision continues to rush aid workers into areas ravaged by Cyclone Idai, which made landfall last Thursday 14 March, and has affected millions of people.

“Our teams on the ground in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi are hearing shocking stories of how the cyclone tore through villages, flattened homes and smashed farmland and crops,” she said.

Aid workers are struggling to reach remote areas, with survivors going without clean water, food and shelter for days. Ms Rogers is calling on Australians to donate to the disaster.

“The scale of damage is still emerging. We’re delivering aid where we can but we’re challenged by metres-deep floodwater – what some are calling an inland ocean. There’s a lack of fuel and electricity for communications.”

World Vision has reached the city of Beira in Mozambique, where Cyclone Idai first struck. 

“The city has been wiped out, with almost all buildings damaged or destroyed. The only access is by boat or air and people are without power and food,” Ms Rogers said.

 “We are scaling up our response to get aid through to those who need it most.”

 

Donate: https://www.worldvision.com.au/global-issues/world-emergencies/cyclone-idai

 

 

For more information or for interview requests, contact: Leah Swann

leah.swann@worldvision.com.au  0421 857 591

Media Releases, Africa, Africa, Claire Rogers, Cyclone, Disaster, East Africa, Emergencies, Humanitarian, Malawi, Zimbabwe

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