Zimbabwe Receives More Relief Fund for Cyclone Idai

BY YESMAN ANTOH-

Zimbabwe Cyclone Idai Flood
Photo Credit: The Zimbabwe Mail

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS, Accra. Ghana- THE UNITED States on Thursday July 25, 2019 provided an additional 4.7 million U.S. dollars to assist thousands of Zimbabweans living in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts to recover and rebuild their lives following Cyclone Idai which hit the country in March.

The additional contribution complements previous Cyclone Idai relief efforts through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and brings the total U.S. government contribution to 8 million dollars.

The U.S. Embassy said with this additional funding, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work with seven partners to provide affected families with access to clean water and hygiene supplies, shelter and settlement support, and agricultural early recovery services.

“In response to the results of several assessments completed by USAID, we are providing additional funding towards recovery efforts to help people rebuild their lives after the tragedy.

This contribution will provide much needed lifesaving assistance to help those affected,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, USAID provided food to approximately 133,000 individuals in the most affected areas, including 2,000 metric tons of sorghum, vegetable oil, and fortified cereals.

In addition, USAID supported a two-month activity that provided water, sanitation, hygiene, and shelter to 36,400 individuals in cyclone-affected areas of Manicaland Province.

At the beginning of this month, USAID launched a project that is helping 1,700 smallholder farmers to grow high value crops, cereals, and pulses, and improve nutrition and hygiene, helping them meet their short and long-term food security needs.

Cyclone Idai, which also hit Mozambique and Malawi, was one of the worst natural disasters in southern Africa in nearly two decades.

The United States said to date it has provided more than 79 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to help people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi who have been affected by the Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth, as well as by flooding that occurred in early March. Xinhua

BY YESMAN ANTOH, NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS, BUSINESS & POLITICS, GLOBAL CORRESPONDENT

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