Responding to Cyclone Idai disaster

PWRDF is responding to two ACT Alliance emergency appeals for Cyclone Idai relief with an initial pledge of $30,000 for Mozambique and $20,000 for Zimbabwe. Cyclone Idai has caused loss of life, destruction of property and displacement in the two countries as well as neighbouring Malawi.

More than 215 people have been killed by the storm according to official figures in the three countries. Still hundreds more are missing and more than 1.5 million people have been affected, according to the Red Cross and government officials. The president of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, fears the number of dead in Mozambique may be as high as 1,000 people. 

The storm hit the coastal city of Beira, Mozambique last week, then moved inland to Zimbabwe and Malawi. Beira is the fourth largest city in Mozambique and reports have estimated almost 90% of the city has been destroyed.

PWRDF is in contact with ACT Alliance and other partners in the region, such as EHALE in Mozambique (located in Nampula) and new partner TSURO in Zimbabwe (located in Chimanimani, which was in the path of the storm). PWRDF continues to monitor the situation and will share further updates as they become available.

Please pray for those who have been affected by the cyclone, and the rains and floods that have come with it. As we know, recovering from these events is a long-term process as families work to rebuild their communities and livelihoods. Please also pray for the agencies on the ground, including the PWRDF partner organizations.

Donations can be made in the following ways:

• Online at pwrdf.org/give-today and choose the box marked Emergency Response;
• On your cell phone by texting PWRDF to 45678;
• By phone: For credit card donations call: 416-924-9192; 1-866-308-7973 Please do not send your credit card number by email or fax;
• By mail: Please make cheques payable to PWRDF and note Emergency Response on the memo line and send to: The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, The Anglican Church of Canada, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2.
• Through Saint John's: online or by cheque payable to Church of St. John the Evangelist, noting PWRDF Emergency Response on your envelope and cheque memo line.

PWRDF Humanitarian Response Coordinator
Naba Gurung
416-924-9192 ext. 321
ngurung@pwrdf.org

Anglicans in Canada are praying, acting and giving to those affected by Cyclone Idai. Please watch for updates on PWRDF’s response at www.pwrdf.org, as well as on Facebook @pwrdfcan and Twitter @pwrdf.