Sanitation and Wastewater Atlas of Africa

The damage due to cyclone Idai was felt beyond Mozambique. According to Chatiza (2019), when cyclone Idai struck Zimbabwe in March 2019, it affected about 270,000 people, causing 340 deaths and displacing 51,000 others. Infrastructure such as roads and bridges was damaged in the country’s Chimanimani and Chipinge areas. Anetworkofabout1,500kmof roadswasmadeunusable. Lives were affected as 140 schools were either damaged or made inaccessible. Homes were lost, while health facilities such as clinics were also damaged. As much as homes were damaged, toilets and deep wells for clean water were also damaged, thus reversing gains made in the rural areas towards improved sanitation and safe drinking water services. Water sources were contaminated as a result of the floods and overflow of toilets and sewerage systems. The affected 270,000 people were exposed to water-borne and water-based diseases, including diarrhea.

250 m

Landslides

Imagery: March 25, 2019

100 m

Imagery: March 25, 2019

Landslide

Buildings destroyed by flood

Flow direction

Flow direction

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SANITATION AND WASTEWATER ATLAS OF AFRICA