On March 14, 2019, Cyclone Idai became one of the most detrimental tropical cyclones to hit the Southern Hemisphere. Idai’s strong winds and rain brought severe flooding to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Madagascar. In Zimbabwe, the hardest area hit was the region of Chimanimani. In the aftermath, some victims were left stranded up to five days before rescuers reached them. To commemorate those lost and those still unfound, the president announced two days of national mourning on March 21, 2019. The torrential rains also created stagnant pools of water, causing a cholera outbreak along with spikes in cases of malaria and typhoid. In total, the humanitarian crisis that ensued from Cyclone Idai affected over 270,000 Zimbabweans through loss of loved ones and livelihoods through droughts, crop losses, and sickness.
As the weather cleared and time has passed, Zimbabweans continue to collect the pieces of their previous lives. In many areas, infrastructure is still destroyed, with survivors still living in tents provided by humanitarian relief organizations. Many are still missing their loved ones, having no idea if they are alive or dead. The number of refugees, internally displaced people and asylum seekers in Zimbabwe is thought to total around 1 million. With these hardships come increased rates of mental illness, particularly post-traumatic stress and depression. As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild, there exists an increasing need for mental health resources, support and accessibility. With the climate change our world is undergoing, fear of future storms of similar magnitude looms.
Check out our policy brief regarding Cyclone Idai here!
As the weather cleared and time has passed, Zimbabweans continue to collect the pieces of their previous lives. In many areas, infrastructure is still destroyed, with survivors still living in tents provided by humanitarian relief organizations. Many are still missing their loved ones, having no idea if they are alive or dead. The number of refugees, internally displaced people and asylum seekers in Zimbabwe is thought to total around 1 million. With these hardships come increased rates of mental illness, particularly post-traumatic stress and depression. As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild, there exists an increasing need for mental health resources, support and accessibility. With the climate change our world is undergoing, fear of future storms of similar magnitude looms.
Check out our policy brief regarding Cyclone Idai here!