HARARE – The United Nations asked donors on Friday for an extra US$60 million to help Zimbabwe recover from a cyclone that tore through eastern regions last month.
The storm flooded swathes of land, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis caused by an earlier drought.
The fresh appeal came as the government released new data showing the death toll had climbed to 344, with 257 people still reported missing. The cyclone killed hundreds more in neighbouring Mozambique and Malawi.
“The revised humanitarian flash appeal aims to respond to the rising humanitarian needs of people in Zimbabwe due to a dry spell, challenging economic situation and compounded by the recent Cyclone Idai disaster,” the U.N.’s resident coordinator in Harare, Bishow Parajuli, said.
The request raised its total current appeal for Zimbabwe to $294 million.
Zimbabweans are also facing an economic crisis – prices of staples such as sugar, cooking oil and rice have risen as much as 60 percent since February, fuelling anger against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
The Ministry of Information said 158 of the 344 dead were found in neighbouring Mozambique after being washed downstream.
Chimanimani district recorded the highest number of deaths with 169, followed by Chipinge with six, Masvingo with five deaths, Mutare rural with four deaths and Buhera and Makoni who recorded a single death each.
At least 238 people are still missing in Chimanimani, and a further 19 in Chipinge – the two districts that bore the brunt of the cyclone. – Reuters/Staff Reporter
