Reaction and response operations assessment in the disaster associated with cyclone Idai, in March 2019 (Mozambique)

Abstract

Emergencies associated with disasters require practice and continuous training to streamline processes and interventions. The study presents a historical retrospective of Cyclone Idai, which occurred in March 2019, in Mozambique, focusing on its impacts in the Tete and Sofala (Beira) provinces. The consequences and challenges in managing the disaster were analysed, as well as its dynamics in the pre-impact, actual impact, destruction, and intervention phases. Strategies used to minimize damage, such as exploratory research, field experiments, and reflections on human resources and logistical conditions, can bring about future improvements in underdeveloped countries. The absence of an Emergency Plan, coordinated with a Major Incident and Disaster Command System, made coordination difficult due to a lack of leadership and the flow of information between agencies. Three seminars on health and safety management in crisis environments were held in Tete, Beira and Maputo, to improve the response to disasters, disseminate knowledge and train the population to minimize risks and optimize the response to future events.