Cyclone Idai: Find out what has happened and think critically about what makes some people more vulnerable to disasters than others

Overview

Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique on the night of 14–15 March 2019 – this weather system caused extensive damage in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Strong winds, a storm surge, heavy rains and widespread flooding have had devastating impacts. More than 800 people have died across the three countries, with many more still missing and millions of people left homeless without food or basic services.

The UN Secretary General declared this “one of the worst-weather related catastrophes in the history of Africa”.

Use this short resource for 9-14 year olds to explore the catastrophic effects of disasters such as Cyclone Idai and how aid is used to support survivors. Develop your learners’ critical thinking about what makes some people more vulnerable to disasters than others and what can be done to make the situation fairer. The resource consists of a slideshow and accompanying script for use in an assembly, tutor time or a circle time session, or to support other classroom-based learning.