Canadian Red Cross

Purpose

April 2019 – On March 15, 2019, Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique before continuing inland to Zimbabwe and Malawi, causing substantial loss of life and injury. The cyclone resulted in severe damage to infrastructure, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and thousands of hectares of standing crops. An estimated three million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the region. With GAC’s support, the Canadian Red Cross deployed a Health Emergency Response Unit (ERU) to Mozambique to enhance health services within affected communities. The ERU is helping to meet the immediate needs of up to an estimated 5000 direct beneficiaries. Health services that are being provided include emergency obstetric and newborn care, general surgery, internal medicine, sexual and reproductive health, and psychosocial support.