Children Risk Cholera in Aftermath of Deadly Cyclone Freddy - UN

Millions of children are at risk in the face of a potential increase in cholera cases in Malawi and Mozambique in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which ravaged both countries twice in less than a month, the United Nations has said.

Across Malawi and Mozambique, flooding and damage caused by the cyclone have led to death, devastation of infrastructure and social services and displacement, while hampering access to health and other basic services, which will almost certainly exacerbate the cholera outbreaks the two countries are experiencing.

Al Jazeera reports that the storm caused at least 579 deaths in three countries, including Mozambique and Madagascar. Malawi was hit the hardest with at least 476 victims and nearly half a million people displaced.

The United Nations has released U.S.$5.5 million as relief package for survivors, the Nyasa Times reports. Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, Resident Coordinator for Malawi, visited some flood-affected areas and is quoted in a statement as saying: "The destruction and suffering that I witnessed in southern Malawi is the human face of the global climate crisis."

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has released US$300,000 to Malawi for humanitarian assistance.

InFocus

Cyclone Freddy caused extensive damage to roads and infrastructure in Malawi.

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