World Bank President David Malpass has announced the disbursement of a total of $545 million to help three countries affected by Cyclone Idai in southern Africa, including Mozambique.
Idai, which devastated central Mozambique including the port city of Beira, in Sofala province, occurred on 14 March 2019, causing more than 600 deaths and about 1.5 million people affected.
Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, 2 May 2019 at the Maputo International Airport, shortly after landing in Beira, Malpass said that the World Bank has activated the Crisis Response Window (CRW) of the International Development Association (IDA) to provide up to $545 million for the three affected countries, including120 million dollars to Malawi and the remainder to Zimbabwe.
The amount, according to Malpass, also includes the150 million dollars that the World Bank has made available in material resources for the programs of that association that are being implemented in the three countries.
“The total money the institution has disbursed amounts to about 700 million dollars” said Malpass, who arrived on Thursday, 2 May 2019 in Mozambique for a two-day official visit.
He explained that there was a need to recover, as soon as possible, the economic fabric of Beira, especially the acquisition of employment.
During his trip to Beira, Malpass discovered enormous damages of the infrastructures which formed part of the reason why the World Bank advocates for a fast recovery of the region.
“In Beira, we interact with the people who are coordinating the aid responses,” he said.
About Cyclone Kenneth, which tore into the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula last week, Malpass announced that experts were currently on the ground assessing the damage caused.
Kenneth caused 41 deaths, more than 180 000 people affected, 38 000 families in difficult conditions, 20 000 people in shelters and five bridges destroyed, isolating some districts from the rest of Cabo Delgado.
“We can move forward with more coordinated assistance to the victims of Cyclone Kenneth,” he promised.
Regarding the meeting with President Filipe Nyusi, Malpass said there was a willingness of the Mozambican government to work for the rapid recovery after natural disasters.
The president of the World Bank left for the United States on Friday, 3 May 2019, after he visited Mozambique for the first time since he was at the helm.
Before that, Malpass visited projects financed by the World Bank in Ethiopia and Madagascar.
– APA