On 14 March, Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique then crossed into Zimbabwe, leaving a wide path of destruction across Eastern Africa. The damage is massive and horrifying. In total, more than three million people have been affected.
Humanitarian emergencies are known to increase significantly the vulnerability of women and girls. Displacement and the destruction of social service facilities create barriers to access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, which are already limited in the affected areas.
The timely provision of SRH services prevents disease and disability, and saves lives. With United Nations partners, UNFPA has conducted an assessment mission and is working to rapidly deploy emergency reproductive health services and supplies and prevention and response to gender-based violence. There is a critical need for these services. UNFPA is appealing for $26.309 million for Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
