In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai that affected Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in mid-March this year, The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has pledged US$ 100,000 (AED 367,250) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to assist families most affected by this tragedy in Mozambique.

Since March, WFP’s large-scale emergency response has reached 1.8 million cyclone-affected Mozambicans in desperate need of food assistance. TBHF’s contribution helped WFP provide life-saving in-kind food to populations in the worst affected districts of Tete, Sofala, Zambezia and Manica provinces of Mozambique. TBHF’s contribution helped provide life-saving food supplies to 14,000 people for one month.

A WFP partner since 2016, TBHF has pledged financial support to help the international agency purchase and deliver essential food supplies, in continuance of their commitment to assisting communities across the world in times of crisis or natural disaster.

Widespread destruction to infrastructure and livelihoods has been reported in the countries hit by Cyclone Idai. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the aftermath of Cyclone Idai as “one of the worst weather-related catastrophes in the history of Africa.” Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, and roads, bridges and crops have been destroyed. According to UN assessments, around 1.85 million people had been directly affected by the cyclone and were in need of multi-sectorial humanitarian assistance.

WFP is now helping communities in affected areas to rebuild their lives and sources of livelihood through Food Assistance for Assets activities, whereby families are provided with food assistance h to compensate for time spent in rebuilding what the cyclone has destroyed.  

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, said: “The Big Heart Foundation continually strives to expand its humanitarian outreach to affected communities around the world, in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and TBHF Chairperson. WFP’s work in Mozambique was absolutely necessary since the worst of the flooding, with rivers flowing downstream from neighbouring countries has been observed there, causing over 500 reported deaths and destruction of 240,000 homes”.

“As part of a responsible international community we consider it our duty to extend the support we can so the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Mozambique can end and hope they are able to fully rebuild their broken lives. The aid to the WFP programme in Mozambique forms part of our foundation’s vision and mission to provide life-saving assistance to individuals in communities that are struggling to provide adequate essential services, especially in times of unforeseen natural disasters or manmade crises,” she added.  

Al Hammadi stressed that the grant had been approved after ensuring there would be regular monitoring of the distribution of supplies and the number of people assisted, in collaboration with the cooperating partners. Data on the quantity/value, utilisation, acceptability and quality of the assistance provided will be collected at food distribution points. Monitoring of the outcome will be initiated at a later stage upon the improvement of access conditions for conducting a large-scale household survey.

“Cyclone Idai left behind a trail of destruction and 1.85 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Mozambique. The humanitarian support we received from our partners has been instrumental in helping us provide life-saving assistance to people stranded in isolated areas and provide urgent food and nutrition support”, said Mageed Yahia, Director of the World Food Programme Office in UAE and Representative to the GCC Region. “The contribution we received from The Big Heart Foundation- under the directive of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi- enabled us to deliver emergency food assistance to families that have lost everything overnight. It also conveyed a precious message of solidarity from the UAE to the affected population. We value our partnership with The Big Heart Foundation and look forward to stronger and more fruitful collaboration in the future to be able to continue helping those whose lives have been shattered by crises, conflicts and natural disasters”, he added  

The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) is a humanitarian charity, that was established in 2015 after a range of humanitarian initiatives and campaigns launched by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi. TBHF aims to provide protection for children in need and their families. Although the foundation concentrates its efforts in the Arab world, it provides support to affected areas worldwide.