Cyclone Idai swept through Southern Africa in March 2019, leaving terrible disaster in its wake. Severe flooding and devastation has affected an estimated 2.6 million people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The current official death toll is 350; that number is expected to rise exponentially, particularly in Mozambique.

United Church Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance, together with local partners, are assessing the impact of the crisis on the ground in order to provide immediate assistance, minimize loss of life, and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are met.

The United Church is launching a church-wide appeal to respond to massive emergency needs and support eventual rehabilitation and rebuilding. Immediate priorities are basic food items, potable water and water purification tablets, blankets, clothing, soap, medical items and mosquito nets.

From Zimbabwe, Mission &Service partner the Zimbabwe Council of Churches writes: “We count ourselves blessed that The United Church of Canada have us in remembrance as we battle to respond to a crisis that keeps getting worse by the day as the extent of destruction to lives, property and livelihoods becomes clear.”