The United States government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), announced that it has made 28.6 million meticals (450,000 dollars) available to support humanitarian assistance efforts in response to tropical cyclone Chido, which hit Mozambique on 15 December, causing significant destruction, especially in the north of the country, as reported by the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM).
According to a USAID statement, the funding is intended to meet the urgent needs of the affected populations in Cabo Delgado province, with a special focus on shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene. The assistance will be implemented by international humanitarian organisations, including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and CARE International, which will coordinate rapid response actions to support the hardest hit communities.
The cyclone brought heavy rains and strong winds, causing loss of life and the destruction of infrastructure in several regions. Preliminary reports indicate that the worst affected areas are in the south of Cabo Delgado province and surrounding areas, where many families have lost their homes and now face significant challenges in recovering.
The Mozambican authorities, in coordination with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), are continuing to assess the full impact of the storm to determine additional assistance needs. The US government reiterated its commitment to working closely with Mozambique to mitigate the effects of the disaster and support communities in rebuilding.
The US ambassador to Mozambique, Peter Vrooman, emphasised the importance of a rapid response to alleviate the suffering of the affected populations. ‘Our government recognises the enormous challenges faced by those affected and reaffirms its solidarity. Our assistance will provide vital aid to the communities most impacted by the cyclone, helping to alleviate human suffering and support recovery efforts,’ he said.
In addition to the immediate response, the US government reinforced its commitment to supporting Mozambique in preparing for future natural disasters, highlighting the importance of resilience measures to minimise the impacts of extreme weather events.
