The World Health Organization (WHO) today estimated that Cyclone Freddy has killed 605 people in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar, and the death toll is expected to rise as 282 people are reported missing.
The balance was provided by WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti during an online press conference on the humanitarian situation caused by Cyclone Freddy.
Moeti added that the hurricane injured 1,400 people in three countries and destroyed more than 300 medical facilities, “overloading the capacity of health systems” in affected countries.
He added that schools, roads and other infrastructure were also destroyed or damaged by Freddie.
The WHO director for Africa noted that a large area of crops had been flooded, raising fears of famine in the affected communities.
In total, he continued, almost 1.4 million people were affected by the passage of the storm.
“We must increase humanitarian assistance to help the affected population cope with the emergency and recover,” he stressed.
Cyclone Freddy caused outbreaks of cholera in affected countries and increased cases of malaria and other preventable diseases, said Matshidiso Moeti.
The WHO, he continued, has already committed eight million dollars (7.3 million euros) to support the health of communities affected by the cyclone and has trained medical personnel involved in relief operations.
The organization also mobilized 184 tons of medical supplies and medicines as part of an emergency response to victims of Cyclone Freddy.
The official noted that the impact of the cyclone was exacerbated by extreme weather events and exacerbated the vulnerability of the population.
Freddy is already one of the longest lasting cyclones in decades, having traveled over 10,000 kilometers since it formed off northern Australia on February 4 and crossed the entire Indian Ocean into southern Africa.
The cyclone first hit the east coast of Madagascar on February 21 and returned to the island on March 5.
In Mozambique, the cyclone that first struck on February 24 made landfall two weeks ago.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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