Letter.

Letter Published in The National UAE on 24Mar 19   Idai survivors need our help today and in the long run

I write to you in reference to your editorial Long-term aid is crucial in the wake of Idai (March 23).

Cyclone Idai has flooded Mozambique’s port city of Beira as well as other areas of the countries. This tragedy that has swept through southern Africa also hit Zimbabwe, Malawi and parts of Madagascar.

I was truly shocked to hear that more than 1,000 people are thought to have died. In the aftermath of the cyclone, millions have lost their homes and loved ones.

I truly hope that those who are still stranded will soon get the help they desperately need, as access to the flooded areas remains very difficult.

However, I do not think that giving emergency aid alone will solve the crisis. Long-term solutions must be provided by the international community to help rebuild devastated regions in these struggling southern African countries.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru