Cyclone Idai caused widespread destruction in Mozambique, particularly in the coastal city of Beira, which suffered flooding so severe that aid agencies could only access the city via plane. A month after the cyclone, the city is beginning to recover, and the humanitarian community’s recovery efforts have been heavily focused on health risks that often stem from a natural disaster such as cholera, malaria, and malnutrition. Cholera, which is caused by a lack of clean water, is already spreading in the country, and aid agencies have been administering thousands of vaccinations to prevent the spread from worsening. In addition, food resources for much of the population were destroyed due to crop damage and food spoilage caused by flooding, so food security is also a concern.

GeoPoll’s second survey collected data from 503 households representing over 3200 individuals on the situation on the ground in Inhambane, Manica, Sofala, and Zambezia provinces. Data was collected from March 31st through April 9th, and all respondents indicated that their community had been impacted by Cyclone Idai. The survey was administered by SMS in Portuguese.

Electricity and Clean Water in Mozambique

Our second survey shows that 63.8% of those impacted by the storm in four regions in Mozambique report having access to clean drinking water overall, up from 46.5% who said the same in the days following the cyclone.  In Beira city, 53.1% say they have access to clean water, up from only 14.7% who had access to clean water a week after the cyclone. Overall, 56.9% say they have access to electricity, compared to 51.2% who had power immediately following the storm. In Sofala province, access to electricity is much lower, with just 25.7% saying they currently have access to electricity, compared to 12.0% who reported having electricity immediately following the storm.

As the community begins to assess damages and rebuild, 44.7% of respondents are still displaced from their homes, and 31% report having major damages to their homes. Just 12% report that they are already repairing damages to their home. In Sofala, 45% of respondents have major damages to their homes and 16% are in the process of repairing damages. The roads in Beira, which were flooded so badly that the city was inaccessible by road for several days following the cyclone, have improved slightly, with 20% in Beira saying most roads are impassible, compared to 38.4% who said the same in our initial survey.

Food Security Following Cyclone Idai

Food security is a significant concern for humanitarian agencies following natural disaster, as crops are often wiped out, food stores destroyed, and livelihoods impacted. In total 61.2% of respondents report that they have eaten fewer than 3 meals a day on 4 or more days in the past week, and in Sofala 69.2% say the same, with almost a quarter (23.6%) of respondents in Sofala saying they have eaten fewer than 3 meals a day every day in the past week. We also find that many are relying on less expensive or preferred foods due to a lack of food and money; 72.57% overall and 80.1% in Sofala report eating less preferred foods on 4 or more days in the past 7 days.

Many aid agencies have descended on the area to provide vital resources; however not all individuals have felt their presence on the ground. Overall 42.5% say that aid organizations or government workers are in their area to provide relief, and interestingly in Beira, which has been at the center of much of the press coverage and relief efforts, only 32.5% say aid organizations are in their area. Just 28.8% in Beira have received aid in the past 7 days.

Food aid is the most needed aid by communities, with 35.8% in all provinces and 41.3% in Beira saying food aid is needed over clean water, medical assistance, and electricity. However, in total only 90 households out of the 503 surveyed, or 17.8%, say they have received food aid in the past 7 days.

Medical Needs and Cholera in Mozambique

GeoPoll’s survey shows high levels of concern over the spread of cholera in the wake of Cyclone Idai. Of all those surveyed, 85.9% say they are very concerned about contracting cholera, and only 1.8% are not worried at all about the disease. A large percentage also report knowing people who have already contracted cholera; 41.6% in all regions and 57.1% in Sofala say they know someone who has contracted cholera since the cyclone. In addition, 41.4% have reported illness or injuries since the cyclone, and of those 26.8% have reported diarrhea or vomiting, and 43.1% report having cuts or wounds.

In terms of access to doctors and medicine, 53.5% of respondents say they have had sufficient access to medical care and the necessary medicine since the cyclone. In Sofala, this number is slightly lower, with 46.6% saying they have had adequate access to medical care. We examined the medical questions by age and gender and did not find major differences between the different age groups or gender in terms of concern over cholera, knowledge of people who have contracted cholera, or the rates of illness. However, we do find that the older age group (35+) were less likely to report they had access to the medical care they needed, with 45.9% of those aged 35 and older saying they’ve received sufficient medical care compared to 54.6% for those from 25-34 and 55.8% for those aged 18-24.

Economic Impact of Cyclone Idai

While the full impact of Cyclone Idai will not be understood for some time, it is expected to be severe, with over $1 billion in damages to infrastructure, and more than 500,000 hectares of crops destroyed, according to the United Nations. Prices for good are expected to rise at a time when many have lost their source of livelihood, further impacting the problem. GeoPoll found that only 22.3% of respondents are currently working, and 45.3% reported that the cyclone has caused them to lose their business – likely due to the widespread destruction of crops in the region.

Collect Data from Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe

As recovery and aid efforts continue, the humanitarian community will need regular data on progress, and remote surveys conducted through mobile phones are a fast and cost-effective mechanism for gathering on-the-ground data. Contact GeoPoll today to learn about our capabilities and coverage in Mozambique, Malwai, and Zimbabwe, and sign up below to be updated on future survey reports on the Cyclone Idai recovery from GeoPoll.

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Data from Mozambique on Destruction and Aid Needed following Cyclone Idai

GeoPoll’s initial data, which is represented in an interactive dashboard below, was collected on March 21st from Sofala, Inhambane, Manica, and Zambezia provinces in Mozambique. GeoPoll was able to reach 700 respondents over the age of 18, all of whom were impacted by cyclone Idai, and who represent households of over 4,700 total individuals. The survey was conducted in Portuguese.

Out of the 700 respondents, 206 are located in Sofala province, which was directly hit by the cyclone, and 185 respondents were from Beira, a coastal city of 500,000 which has been devastated by flooding following the cyclone. The data represents those we have been able to reach so far via mobile phone, and does not provide a complete picture of the situation, but does give valuable insights on the level of destruction across the region. Highlights from the data include:

• 78% in Sofala do not have access to clean drinking water
• 78% in Sofala do not have access to electricity
• 85% total say they had damages to their home, with 39% characterizing damages as major – in Sofala, 90% had damages, with 56% saying they are major damages
• Just 19% overall and 12% in Sofala have received aid since the cyclone
• Of those who have received aid, 60% received food aid, 21% shelter, 20% clean water, 7% electrical connection and 4% cash
• Aid most needed is quite split with 32% saying food is most needed, followed by shelter at 18% and cash at 16%. In Sofala they say food aid is needed more, at 40%, followed by clean water at 19% and cash and shelter both at 13%
• In terms of food security, 75% report they have eaten fewer meals on 3 or more days in the past week. In Sofala 77% have eaten fewer meals on 3 or more days, and  10% have eaten fewer meals on 7 of the past 7 days.

Open-ended responses on the damage to people’s homes provide further details into the individual’s situations and include the following statements:

• “Lost almost all goods including home”
• “The living room wall and ceiling fell left, farm buildings flooded and destroyed the vegetables.”
• “Fallen ceiling, I lost my chickens, duck and my goats”
• “My house is destroyed, my bovine cattle dead, I had 4 heads and a machine”
• “In my house I lost 3 windows and the roof cover made of zinc sheets were all ruined”
• “The house has been removed almost all sheets, and one of the bedrooms collapsed, the land is totally flooded, and my small farm was devastated by the wind”
• “All the sheets went out of the house, one of the walls of the house went down, several fallen trees and practically wet all the food we had.”
• “House is destroyed, homeless, we had little food, wet with rain”
• “Still homeless, rice in the farm rotted because of the excess”
• “All destroyed, no place to stay, inside full of water”
• “Destruction, everything is lost”

To be alerted when GeoPoll collects more data from communities affected by cyclone Idai please fill out the form below and we will notify you as soon as new data is released. To get in touch with a member of GeoPoll’s team contact us here.

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During this time, a man named Patrick Meier was studying the potential of digital maps for crisis response. After the earthquake struck, he became involved in the relief efforts. SMS texts were sent out by aid organizations to inform affected people of safety procedures. Eventually, people in distress were encouraged to text a special number if they needed rescue. Patrick and other volunteers wadded through the influx of these messages and did their best to prioritize need. The responses allowed volunteers to map out where people were alive and trapped under rubble, as well as map out which hospitals and pharmacies had accessible supplies. Patrick used this information to create a digital crisis map of the scene that helped to save many lives.

Despite overwhelming efforts, there were hundreds of thousands of lives lost that year in Haiti, yet the learning experience was incredibly valuable for future crisis response. Throughout the rest of this post, we focus on a variety of best practices around SMS message communications following crisis and mobile communications platforms like GeoPoll.

Best Practices

Do not send redundant SMS messages

In any crisis situation, there can only be one leader. It is important to avoid amplifying chaos in an already hectic environment. Aid organizations can be most helpful if they partner with each other. Instead of multiple organizations blasting SMS texts with safety information, a united front should be established. The people in the affected area should only receive one message about each relevant piece of information.

Clearly identify sender

When sending safety information via SMS messages, be sure to identify who the information is coming from. Including a reputable organization name in the messages builds trust around the SMS communications, and encourages the distressed individuals to respect the information provided to them.

 Allow people to unsubscribe to alerts

Allow people to unsubscribe to SMS safety alerts. It is possible that not everyone within the radius of an affected area needs to see the alerts—and some will wish not to receive them. Provide opt-in or opt-out options for SMS blasts.

Set up a way for people to make complaints

Allow for responses to be sent back to the aid organization. During the Haiti earthquake aftermath, a new response number was eventually created for people to send in requests for help, demonstrating the importance of SMS alerts having two-way communications streams.

Although there will be a flood of incoming messages, the messages can be organized and prioritized as quickly as possible. Messages can provide the information needed to lead rescuers to exact locations for rescue missions with probable outcomes—which is much more effective than digging through fallen buildings for a chance at finding someone.

Incoming messages can also allow for a broader understanding of the state of distress. The scope of the crisis and geographic area affected by the disaster can be determined quickly through the data provided by two-way communication with the individuals in need.

Research literacy rates

Keep in mind the level of education in the affected area. If literacy rates are low, simple and straightforward language is very important for communicating. Avoid complex sentence structure and words. Use simple words in short clear sentences. With very low literacy rates, voice calls with recorded messages may be the most effective way to contact individuals.  GeoPoll offers multiple modes of mobile communication, including SMS, CATI and IVR voice calls.

Determine the correct language and dialect to use for messages

Depending on the location and radius of the affected area, there may be more than one language spoken. Make sure to speak with experts about the languages and dialects that are spoken by the people before sending messages.

Create crisis response plan before disasters occur

Be prepared for whatever may occur. Make sure to have a comprehensive plan in place before a disaster or crisis erupts and identify potential partners who can assist you. Sending mobile communications requires technology and connectivity with mobile network operators which can take months to build – platforms including GeoPoll have already-built platforms and partnerships which allow for the immediate deployment of mass communications.

Also, train all available future responders in advance. Prepare the individuals who may be pulled in to work on the aid effort with the preliminary plan of action—this includes training on who all of the relevant points of contact are, training on general procedure, and training on hierarchal communication structures.

Develop a rough guideline for crisis communication messages with team leaders beforehand. Every second counts in a crisis so have clearly communicated messages already drafted and ready to send with only momentary notice. If this planning phase is done well it can help your organization avoid mistakes when lives are at risk.

Plan to have people on-the-ground supplementing information that is sent via SMS

Information sent through SMS text is limited to a short character count. Realistically, SMS updates will only provide the individuals in need with vital information. Planning to dispatch aid workers to the area who have additional information can help organize some of the inevitable chaos spreading through a devastated area.

Do not distribute personal information gathered through the SMS aid process

Organizations often collect personal information during the aid or disaster recovery process including phone numbers and names. This data must be protected using secure procedures. Make sure to partner with trusted organizations like GeoPoll who have policies in place to ensure personal identifiable information is secure.

Moving forward

The use of technology in disaster response is fairly new, and society will learn more about the most effective ways to use SMS technology in crisis as time moves forward. In the meantime, inefficient practices are bound to accidentally arise out of necessity. This will provide additional insight into how to continue improving. However, it is important to always keep the fundamental principle of aid— “do no harm”—in the forefront of our minds throughout the learning process.

GeoPoll regularly conducts surveys that collect vital data and can send communications through one-way and two-way messaging via multiple mobile modes. Our database of over 240 million people in more than 60 emerging markets allows aid organizations to quickly reach targeted populations in specific areas, or GeoPoll can send messages to aid beneficiaries and other individuals when provided with phone numbers.

Contact us to learn more about how GeoPoll can help your organization help others.

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