(Update) Zimbabwe receives international support for Cyclone Idai disaster relief
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) UPDATE- The government of Zimbabwe continues to receive more international support in disaster relief following extensive havoc wreaked by Cyclone Idai that hit the eastern part of the country last Thursday, officials said Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, the European Commission announced an initial emergency aid package of €3.5 million (US$3,97 million) to help those affected by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, where the death toll was estimated to be over 1000.
“Zimbabwe is getting a lot of support from international friends and well-wishers. A plane load of relief and provisions from Tanzania is landing this evening. Another cargo plane full of relief supplies procured by the President in Abu Dhabi is landing at 1600 hours tomorrow (Wednesday),” the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services tweeted.
Before the tweet, the United States of America State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino said that the US would provide support to their partners in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe who have been affected by Cyclone Idai in Southern Africa. The United States is mobilizing to provide support to our partners in Malawi, Mozambique. and Zimbabwe to assist with the relief efforts,” he said, while extending their sympathies to those who were injured or had lost loved ones.
The United Kingdom also announced it would provide £6 million (US$ 7 959 828) in aid support to victims of the devastating Cyclone Idai for the affected countries of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
The United Nations expressed solidarity with Zimbabwean authorities, saying it stood “ready to work with them as they respond to the humanitarian needs resulting from the disaster”.
In another development, the Zimbabwean Diaspora, through the crowdsourcing American website, GoFundMe, has raised US$30,300 of a US$50 000 target in disaster relief funds since Saturday.
This is the fourth change in the target amount since the launch of the crowdsourcing campaign by activist Freeman Chari.
The Zimbabwean government has complemented the international support by disbursing RTGS$50 million (US$18 518 518) in emergency funds towards disaster relief efforts.
On the local front, the country's largest telecommunication company, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has so far raised RTGS$100 059.15 (US$35735.41) and promised to match each dollar in kind towards Cyclone Idai's disaster relief funds.
Leader of Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa acknowledged efforts by local, provincial, national and international humanitarian organizations.
“I acknowledge the intervention of various local, provincial, national and international humanitarian organizations that responded swiftly and continue to respond to save and protect lives,” he said.
Cyclone Idai entered Zimbabwe from Mozambique, after destroying the coastal city of Beira, last Thursday night and wreaked havoc till Sunday in the eastern Manicaland Province with the Chimanimani District being the hardest hit.
With winds of up to 170 km/hr and heavy rains causing flooding, Cyclone Idai left a trail of destruction in the Manicaland Province destroying roads, bridges, houses, cars, and other property.
The Chimanimani District was the hardest hit.
The latest assessment puts the death toll caused by Cyclone Idai at 98 deaths, 217 missing, 102 injured, and 42 marooned.
Relief and rescue efforts are led by the Zimbabwe National Army in partnership and support of American humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps, Zimbabwe Red Cross, United Nations, the UK's Department for International Development and a growing list of well-wishers.
-0- PANA RA 19Mar2019
