United Nations Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller has pledged to stand with the people of Zimbabwe particularly the victims of cyclone Idai in Chimanimani until they get back on their feet.
Addressing a press briefing at the end of her three day visit to Zimbabwe in which she toured Chimanimani, met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Ministers of Local Government and Foreign Affairs, Mueller said the situation in the affected areas is heartbreaking.
“We went to access the cyclone hit areas and we saw rivers full of boulders. The situation is heartbreaking as many people lost their lives and livelihood. These people need to continue with their lives. A tent is not a home,” said Mueller.
She said the UN appealed for USD$294 million towards cyclone idai disaster response with only 40 percent of the targeted having been realised.
“We are now working towards another rainy season and cyclone victims still need to be protected from health risks. We need to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Mueller added.
“Climate change threatens life on our planet. Many small countries are at particular risk. Fortunately, small states have intrinsic strategic agility, often offering innovative solutions, serving as catalysers of global change. We count on and learn from their experience in tackling environmental challenges,” WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab said.
