Beira – Hundreds of displaced Mozambicans affected by Cyclone Idai voluntarily moved to a new temporary displacement site in Beira this week with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration or were provided with shelter kits that allowed them to return home.  

A total of 143 families (424 individuals) were moved in an orderly fashion on Wednesday from two schools that are scheduled to reopen to Samora Machel, a temporary displacement site. IOM and INGC established the temporary site in collaboration with other humanitarian partners including the British and Spanish Red Cross who provided the WASH facilities, and youth volunteers who set up tents.  

“I lived in Praia Nova with my husband and my two kids," said Ines, a new resident of Samora Machel site who lost her home to the cyclone. "The night of the cyclone the wind was so strong that it blew the roof away. It kept raining for two weeks; we were wet day and night. I am relieved to be in the camp; to have a place to sleep is a lot for someone who has lost everything. We want to restart a new life.”  

Following the recent Ministry of Education directive to resume school across cyclone-affected areas, IOM offered support to the Government of Mozambique through INGC to assist in the voluntary and dignified movement of people. 

“IOM is committed to responding to immediate humanitarian needs in cooperation with the Government of Mozambique, and supporting efforts to facilitate voluntary, dignified, sustainable returns. IOM is also committed to support INGC in maintaining temporary relocation sites until the affected population are able to return,” said IOM Mozambique Chief of Mission Katarina Schnoering.  

The CCCM Working Group, a Task Force on relocation/movement was created to help the  the government in these activities. During this movement, Task Force members ensured that those who move are well informed before, during and after the movement.  

“IOM does not promote encampments but in this case, this camp provides a temporary solution until the affected population are able to rebuild their cyclone-damaged homes,” said Rafael Abis, IOM CCCM Expert and CCCM working group coordinator. “Several people who moved to this site report that their houses were severely damaged and therefore they need shelter support in order to start rebuilding.” 

Also on Wednesday in Beira, some 350 families who had been recently moved from Matadoro secondary school into the temporary relocation site in San Pedro Parish, returned to their homes after receiving assistance, including shelter kits from IOM, food packs from WFP, and hygiene items from UNICEF, in coordination with the shelter, WASH and food clusters. Through its shelter support package and CCCM support for return movement, IOM aims to support people to return to normalcy as quickly as possible.  

In the first week of April, IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams in coordination with Mozambique’s INGC conducted a rapid assessment in 41 displacement sites in Beira, Nhamatanda, and Dondo Districts, to produce the “IOM DTM Site Assessment Round 2 – Cyclone Idai” (10 April 2019).  

The assessment aims to provide information for humanitarian partners including demographics, needs, and vulnerabilities for each site. Over 52,000 individuals were identified in the displacement sites; 22 of the displacement sites are schools and 7 are community centres. The assessment indicates that primary needs of the displaced people in these camps are food, shelter, and latrines; secondary needs include clothing and blankets.  

To access this report: 

Analytical Report   

Site Profiles showing specific demographics, needs, and vulnerabilities for each site.  

Dataset   

For further information please contact IOM Mozambique: Katharina Schnoering, Email: kschnoering@iom.int, or Sandra Black, Tel: +258 852 162 278, Email: sblack@iom.int