In Mozambique, the threat of a rapidly accelerating cholera outbreak is looming for children and families one week after Cyclone Freddy made landfall for a second time, according to a recent report by UNICEF. The report says that flooding caused by Cyclone Freddy, combined with the disruption of water, sanitation, and hygiene services, has driven a rapid acceleration in cholera cases. Almost 10,700 cases have been reported, which is nearly quadruple the number since early February, and more than 2300 cases were reported during the past week alone. Thirty-six districts across eight provinces of Mozambique are currently experiencing active cholera outbreaks, with Inhambane and Zambezia being the provinces affected by Cyclone Freddy on its first and second impacts, both of which have declared outbreaks. UNICEF is concerned about the strong possibility of an increase in other waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and malaria, which are leading causes of child mortality. With health and nutrition services seriously disrupted in many locations in the aftermath of the cyclone, the risk of death and disease for children increases further.

“UNICEF is working closely with the government to urgently restore access to health, water, hygiene, and sanitation interventions to areas hit by the cyclone and to prevent and treat cholera, but additional support is needed to meet the rapidly growing needs of children and families,” said Maria Luisa Fornara, UNICEF Representative to Mozambique. UNICEF is already working with UN and civil society partners, in support of the government, to respond to cholera and the impacts of Cyclone Freddy and flooding. The organization has provided over US$1.2 million in health and WASH supplies in 2023, as well as technical and financial support to government and NGO partners. UNICEF supported a cholera vaccination campaign which reached 720,000 people in February and is facilitating the procurement of an additional 1.36 million vaccines for delivery in the coming weeks. UNICEF is also distributing critical supplies including water purification, treatment and storage supplies, hygiene kits, disinfectant, and soap.

UNICEF is also supporting efforts to ensure students quickly regain access to learning. Estimates from the Mozambique National Institute of Disaster Risk Management suggest that more than 1500 classrooms have been destroyed by Cyclone Freddy, causing disruption to learning for more than 134,000 students. None of the 1025 climate-resilient classrooms constructed since 2019 with UNICEF support suffered damage during Cyclone Freddy, demonstrating the importance of investing in climate-resilient infrastructure. UNICEF’s funding requirements are more than US$50 million to respond to the immediate needs and recovery of children and families affected by Cyclone Freddy, flooding, and cholera.