World Food Programme (WFP) has said that additional resources will be required to facilitate a wider response to curb the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Mozambique.
Development Diaries reports that Cyclone Freddy, for the second time, made landfall in Quelimane city, central Mozambique, between 11 and 12 March, recording sustained winds of 160–170 kilometres per hour.
In its WFP Mozambique External Situation Report #5, WFP noted that the return of Freddy to Mozambique follows weeks of intense rainfall and flooding, which have already significantly impacted the southern and central parts of the country.
It also revealed that several rivers are currently at the alert level and continuing intense rainfall is expected to result in overflowing and widespread flooding.
About 171,385 people are estimated to have been directly impacted, with 27,199 hectares of cropland lost, while a further 29,705 of cropland flooded.
Government estimates reveal that prior to the second landfall, more than 565,000 people
live in areas expected to be affected by the return of Freddy, across the provinces of Zambezia, Tete, Sofala, and Nampula.
Development Diaries calls for more donor support as the government and people of Mozambique face a potentially devastating effect of Cyclone Freddy.
Photo source: BBC
