THE World Bank has approved the allocation of $150 million from its existing projects in Mozambique to assist the country in recovering from the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy. The tropical storm, which struck in late February and then again in March, resulted in significant loss of life, with over 1,000 reported deaths across Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
The funds will primarily be utilised for restoring transport infrastructure and providing essential services such as water supply, sanitation, healthcare, and education. This financial support is separate from the $300 million grant approved by the World Bank in July, consisting of $100 million in grant money and $50 million in credit.
Xavier Chavana, the World Bank’s disaster risk management specialist in Mozambique, emphasized the priority of responding quickly to the emergency and facilitating the recovery process for the affected population. He stated, ‘Our priority is to support the Government to respond to this emergency quickly and ensure that the people affected by yet another cyclone can recover as soon as possible.’
The World Bank’s assistance aims to aid Mozambique’s government in addressing the immediate needs of the cyclone-affected areas and facilitating long-term recovery and resilience building efforts.