Mozambique is again bracing for another storm brewing in the Indian Ocean, one that’s expected to make landfall along the country’s northern coast later this week.
Tropical Storm Kenneth is projected to come ashore near the Tanzania-Mozambique border on Thursday, bringing heavy rains and flash flooding.
Earlier this year, Mozambique was battered by Cyclone Idai, which inundated the country, forcing more than 77,000 people into shelters. At least 800 people were killed in Mozambique and neighboring countries as a result of the storm and the floods that followed.
Rains from Tropical Storm Kenneth are expected to begin Tuesday night, and though the storm may weaken as it moves over land, it could still set off mudslides and flooding.
Direct Relief continues to respond to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, and is preparing a 20-pallet shipment for departure from the organization’s headquarters this week.
The shipment contains approximately $3.4 million in medical aid, which will support the work of Health Alliance International, a local nonprofit working to strengthen health systems in the region.
Included in the shipment are more than 1 million defined daily doses of antibiotics, as well as essential medicines to manage chronic conditions like diabetes. Also included are oral rehydration salts, which will be used to help rehydrate people recovering from diseases like cholera.
Since Cyclone Idai made landfall, health officials have been working to stem the spread of cholera, which is endemic to the region. More than 6,300 cases have been reported and eight deaths have occurred in Mozambique, according to the World Health Organization.
The latest shipment follows prior dispatches of medical aid to Mozambique and Malawi, which contained more than 200,000 defined daily doses of requested antibiotics, analgesics, oral rehydration solution, deworming medicines, and emergency medical supplies such as protective gear and soap to help curb the spread of cholera.
Several companies have stepped up to bolster Cyclone Idai response with financial support and medical products, including 3M, Abbott, AbbVie, Apotex, BMS, FedEx, P&G, Pfizer, LiquidIV, Merck, Sandoz, and Teva.
Direct Relief will continue to coordinate with local healthcare providers throughout the week and respond to the impacts of Tropical Storm Kenneth as needed.
