Jacinta remembers the night the storm hit. Taking shelter in her home, the winds blew strong enough to rip the roof of her house. As brick walls started to collapse around her, Jacinta knew that her family could no longer stay here. They took refuge in Jacinta’s mothers house, praying that day would break and the storm would subside. Jacinta and her family survived the storm, but life will be difficult moving forward.

Jacinta and her family are currently living in a local primary school, which has served as a temporary shelter for some of the most vulnerable families over the last two weeks. Jacinta says that people sleep on the floor next to each other, with little room to even move or turnaround. With no money to rebuild her home, Jacinta is not sure where to go from here. All she can think about is ensuring that her children have food to eat each day.

For thousands of others in Beira living in crowded temporary shelters, the spread of diseases like cholera are of enormous concern. Without access to proper toilets and clean drinking water sources, families are concerned for their health. Over 2,000 people in Mozambique have already been diagnosed with cholera, and hundreds of new cases are being reported each day.

Thankfully, there are treatments for cholera and clear strategies to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease. However, action must be taken now.

World Renew is supporting local partners through the ACT Alliance in preventing the continued spread of cholera. In the coming weeks, thousands of people like Jacinta will receive urgently needed assistance to end this outbreak. Families will be given water purification sachets, and other hygiene essentials like soap, buckets, and jerry cans to carry drinking water.

To support World Renew’s emergency response efforts in Mozambique and Malawi, please donate today. Please also pray for Jacinta and the thousands of others who have lost their homes and do not know what the future holds.

 

Canadians – until April 14, your gifts will be DOUBLED by the Canadian Government, through World Renew’s participation in the Humanitarian Coalition Cyclone Idai appeal.

Photos gathered by Natalia Jidovanu/Finn Church Aid; story gathered by Erik Nystrom/Finn Church Aid.