After Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, the situation on the ground is still dire. Catastrophic flooding and high winds left historic devastation across the east African nation. Tens of thousands of people remain displaced, food is scarce, clean water is limited, and reports of cholera and other waterborne illnesses are already making headlines.

Some areas remain flooded. Buzi, a rural town in Mozambique, was entirely under water as a result of Cyclone Idai. Now it is only accessible by boat or helicopter. This makes getting relief and supplies to these desperate families extremely difficult.

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Buzi and has opened an Emergency Field Hospital at the request of the Mozambique Ministry of Health.

Morgan Cooper, MD, Samaritan’s Purse

“We had a lady come in last night, a complicated case. She required Cesarean section. Surgery went fine. The baby, however, required resuscitation. After about an hour, the child was able to breathe on their own. And that’s why we’re here– to serve the community of Buzi and to be here for them.”

Kelly Suter, RN, Samaritan’s Purse

“What I’ve been told by several patients is, “First, the winds came and blew the roofs off our houses. And then when the roof was gone, the rain came and soaked everything inside. And then the river started to flood and came up and filled everything with mud.” They’re trying to rebuild, but the hospital was quite damaged. Many of the buildings are not functional anymore. They’re not able to offer all the services they could, so what we’re doing is filling that gap temporarily.”

Becky Haak, MD, Samaritan’s Purse

“You’ve got to feel very alone when everything that you had, which was hardly anything, is gone. And to come alongside and show love and show compassion and kindness and say, “You’re not alone. God loves you. He’s sending people to care for you.” That’s a message very unique to what we’re doing, and that is the message we want to give.”

Samaritan’s Purse: Mozambique Cyclone Relief

Samaritan’s Purse airlifted emergency shelter materials and a team of disaster relief specialists, including medical personnel, to Mozambique to provide help in Jesus’ Name to areas devastated by deadly Cyclone Idai. We set up an Emergency Field Hospital and have seen thousands of patients. Our teams are also responding to Cyclone Kenneth, which made landfall a few weeks after Idai.

Read more on Samaritan’s Purse, Samaritan’s Purse Reaches Inundated Mozambique Town with Lifesaving Aid

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