Cyclone Freddy death toll escalates to 21

THE death toll arising from the Severe Tropical Storm Freddy in Madagascar and Mozambique has risen to 21.This follows latest rains in Madagascar leaving four people dead.The deaths bring Freddy’s toll to 11 deaths in Mozambique and 10 in Madagascar.
United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that Freddy’s first landfall on the south-east coast of Madagascar on February 21, affected at least 226 000, of whom an estimated 148 000 are in need of humanitarian assistance.This is according to the findings of a multi-sectoral assessment carried out by the government and humanitarian partners.
In Mozambique, nearly 166 600 people have been affected by Freddy, according to National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD).Authorities reported that nearly 9 900 displaced people took shelter in 40 accommodation sites in Inhambane, Gaza, Sofala and Maputo, and about 800 people have been rescued.
More than 28 300 houses and at least 25 health facilities and 919 classrooms have been destroyed, leaving 68 280 children out of school.Over 38 100 hectares of crops have been impacted and more than 18 700 hectares of crops have been lost.
In Mozambique, floods are feared to worsen the cholera crisis.The water borne disease has claimed 37 lives from 5 237 cases since September, according to the World Health Organisation.
The death toll is as of February 19.

Source: CAJ News Agency