It’s been four months since Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Idai is the most severe natural disaster to affect southern Africa in over three decades.
Your swift response rushed aid to families in desperate need. You are helping them access safe water, stay healthy and replace essential items that were lost.
Water filters = safe schools, healthy schools
You’re providing clean water to more than 6,000 children in eight schools in Zimbabwe. The schools are now equipped with water filters that turn unsafe water into clean, drinkable water.
You’re also protecting families from getting sick. After a disaster strikes, water can be scarce and disease can spread quickly. You are reaching community members with training about good hygiene and sanitation practices. With your help, cyclone-affected communities are staying healthy.
In Zimbabwe, your support provided water filters in 8 schools so that children have access to safe water. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Students and a school staff member display their new water filter, provided to them by you after Cyclone Idai hit their community in March 2019. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Students pose with their new water filters, provided by you, following Cyclone Idai. Along with the water filters, our local partners are teaching students and school staff improved hygiene and sanitation practices. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Temporary shelter and essential household items
More than 400 people in Zimbabwe, whose homes were damaged or destroyed, received tents for temporary housing until they can rebuild, along with mattresses and blankets.
Tom (pictured below, far right) is a teacher in a secondary school in Kopa. He and his family narrowly escaped the flooding by climbing onto the roof of their house, where they remained for an entire day until help came. He says his home was partially destroyed and he is so appreciative the compassion he’s received from people like you.
“I want to thank Lutheran World Relief … for the help you have given us,” he says. “In particular, to come here and listen to our stories. No one else has given us the chance to share out pain. Thank you for being an ear.”
A woman carries a mattress and other items she received from a distribution carried out by our local partner, Smile for Africa, and made possible by you. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Staff from Smile for Africa distribute items to families, many of whose homes were destroyed in Cyclone Idai. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Tom says he appreciates the items he's received to help his family recover, but he is also very grateful for the emotional support. (Photo courtesy of Smile for Africa)
Quilts and Care Kits
Your gifts of quilts and kits reached families in Mozambique. There, the cyclone brought torrential rain and wind, affecting more than 1.85 million people, including a million children. Many school buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed and students lost what few supplies they had.
With your support, we distributed 2,094 School Kits to students, along with Personal Care Kits, and quilts, to people affected by the storm.
Eliza, 12, and 14-year-old Zefaria narrowly escaped the cyclone’s destructive path. They tried to save their school items, but the flood waters proved too powerful. Both received an LWR School Kit. Eliza says she’s most excited to have “the crayons, the rubber [eraser], the ruler and the scissor.” Zefaria says the notebook is his favorite item.
Your gift of Quilts and Kits allow vulnerable children like Eliza and Zefaria to return to school prepared after disaster strikes. Thank you for your support!
A boy and a girl happily display the LWR School Kits they received during a distribution in Mozambique. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)
A class of students happily displays their new LWR School Kits in Mozambique. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)
Local staff in Mozambique distribute LWR School Kits to survivors of Cyclone Idai. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)
Be a light to the next family in crisis
We can’t predict when and where the next disaster will strike, but your faithful support ensures we are ready to respond, quickly and efficiently. Here are a few ways you can help.
- Pray for families and communities working to recover from Cyclone Idai.
- Give to Lutheran World Relief’s “World of Good” fund, which allows us to respond quickly when needs arise around the world.
- Make LWR Quilts & Kits. These simple gifts of love reach people around the world in their darkest hours, inspiring hope and recovery. Here's how to get started. (Not a quilter? You can still make sure quilts and kits reach people in need around the world with a gift to our Quilt and Kit Shipping Fund.)