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Tropical Cyclone Idai, which struck in March 2019, was among the most catastrophic climate-related disasters in Southern Africa, causing widespread destruction, loss of life, economic loss, and rapid-onset displacement in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Displaced populations experienced disproportionate impacts after the cyclone, yet few studies have examined post-disaster displacement management dynamics. As climate change intensifies cyclones like Idai and their associated displacement impacts, addressing this research gap is crucial for mitigating future climate-related displacement risks. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, reports from humanitarian agencies, and policy documents, this paper examines Cyclone Idai-related displacement in Mozambique, with a focus on the short-term, long-term, and cross-border dimensions shaped by displacement management. Findings indicate that displacements following Cyclone Idai were largely internal and marked by weak disaster preparedness, reactive disaster response, and resettlement, which are entrenched in structural and non-structural vulnerabilities. There was also limited coordination on cross-border displacements. Altogether, these challenges undermined disaster recovery, heightening future displacement risks. Based on these findings, the paper recommends a shift towards improved early warning systems, disaster preparedness, effective coordination, and mobilisation of local resources at national and regional levels for disasters. Furthermore, durable, displacement-proof solutions must be underpinned by coherent national and regional frameworks for displacement management that integrate disaster risk reduction into land-use planning, urban planning, and climate-resilient livelihoods.

The Central Region of Mozambique (Sofala Province) bordering on the active cyclone area of the southwestern Indian Ocean has been particularly affected by climate hazards. The Cyclone Idai, which hit the region in March 2019 with strong winds causing extensive flooding and a massive loss of life, was the strongest recorded tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere. The aim of this study was to use pre- and post-cyclone Idai Landsat satellite images to analyze temporal changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) across the Sofala Province. Specifically, we aimed—(i) to quantify and map the changes in LULC between 2012 and 2019; (ii) to investigate the correlation between the distance to Idai’s trajectory and the degree of vegetation damage, and (iii) to determine the damage caused by Idai on different LULC. We used Landsat 7 and 8 images (with 30 m resolution) taken during the month of April for the 8-year period. The April Average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) over the aforementioned period (2012–2018, pre-cyclone) was compared with the values of April 2019 (post-cyclone). The results showed a decreasing trend of the productivity (NDVI 0.5 to 0.8) and an abrupt decrease after the cyclone. The most devastated land use classes were dense vegetation (decreased by 59%), followed by wetland vegetation (−57%) and shrub land (−56%). The least damaged areas were barren land (−23%), barren vegetation (−27%), and grassland and dambos (−27%). The Northeastern, Central and Southern regions of Sofala were the most devastated areas. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient between the relative vegetation change activity after Idai (NDVI%) and the distance to Idai’s trajectory was 0.95 (R-square 0.91), suggesting a strong positive linear correlation. Our study also indicated that the LULC type (vegetation physiognomy) might have influenced the degree of LULC damage. This study provides new insights for the management and conservation of natural habitats threatened by climate hazards and human factors and might accelerate ongoing recovery processes in the Sofala Province.

During a disaster, comprehensive, accurate, timely, and standardized health data collection is needed to improve patient care and support effective responses. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Minimum Data Set (MDS) as an international standard for data collection in the context of disasters and public health emergencies. The EMT MDS was formally activated for the first time in 2019 during the response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. The aim of this study was to analyze data collected through the EMT MDS during Cyclone Idai of 2019 and to identify the benefits of and opportunities for its future use. The EMT MDS was used for data collection. All 13 international EMTs deployed from March 27 through July 12 reported data in accordance with the EMT MDS form. The collected data were analyzed descriptively. A total of 18,468 consultations, including delivery of 94 live births, were recorded. For children under-five and those five-years and older, the top five reasons for consultation were minor injuries (4.5% and 10.8%, respectively), acute respiratory infections ([ARI] 12.6% and 4.8%, respectively), acute watery diarrhea (18.7% and 7.7%, respectively), malaria (9.2% and 6.1%, respectively), and skin diseases (5.1% and 3.1%, respectively). Non-disaster-related health events accounted for 84.7% of the total health problems recorded. Obstetric care was among the core services provided by EMTs during the response. Despite of challenges, the EMT MDS reporting system was found to support the responses and coordination of EMTs. The role of the Mozambican Ministry of Health (MOH), its cooperation with EMTs, and the dedicated technical support of international organizations enabled its successful implementation.

Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe exposed deficiencies in the country’s disaster management system. This study uses a phenomenological case exploration of the experiences of local residents in Rusitu Valley following cyclone-induced floods that affected the area in March 2019. Through capturing narratives of participants who were recruited through chain referrals, the research intends to understand how local actors, utilizing their local-based response systems, managed to fill in the voids that characterize disaster management practice in Zimbabwe. Results show that the participation of local “heroes” and “Samaritans,” by deploying their social networks, norms, relationships, practices, and modest ingenuity, helped to speed up response times and minimize threats to lives and livelihoods. Documentation of the stories of local actors about their disaster experiences also gives a richer picture of the Cyclone Idai disaster. Although the community response system also facilitated the operation of external disaster management agencies, their premature withdrawal tended to weaken the trust and values existing in the area, and created tensions between the disaster-affected people and other villagers. Given the delays in formal responses by the government and other external relief agencies, the practices of local actors, although spontaneous and largely uncoordinated, offer rich insights into the design and development of disaster management regimes.

Environmental disruptions, such as extreme weather events, can heighten household uncertainty by causing financial, marital, and housing instability. In this paper, we draw on unique interview data to deepen understanding of fertility intentions and the role of environmentally induced uncertainty in shaping them. Using in-depth interviews collected in rural Malawi in July 2019, we examine the motivations behind fertility intentions during a period of heightened uncertainty—the months following the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai. Among respondents with children, the majority planned to wait at least four years before having another child. Based on parents’ reproductive narratives, we develop a typology of respondents who prefer long inter-birth intervals. Our analysis reveals that while some respondents’ motivations are consistent with traditional spacing intentions, others stem from fundamental uncertainty about the future and the challenges of regaining economic and household stability in a natural resource-dependent context. Our results provide a foundation for developing theories to understand the relationship between environmental forces and fertility.

PurposeThe rising threat of tropical cyclones in Zimbabwe is of great importance in establishing the general sources of humanitarian supply chain risks and assessing their negative impact on relief operations. There is a scarcity of studies that collate such evidence toward enhanced humanitarian supply chains in Southern Africa. With this in mind, this study explored scattered evidence on supply chain risks in the delivery of humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe.Design/methodology/approachThis reflective study evaluates supply chain risks associated with Cyclone Idai humanitarian relief operations through qualitative in-depth interviews with relevant actors in the field. The data were triangulated with secondary information from associated publications, blogs and newspapers to reflect the truth about the phenomena under investigation.FindingsThe results show that Cyclone Idai disaster response operations were adversely affected by social, economic and political/governmental risk factors. In the same breath, poor or inadequate infrastructure and environmental factors were also contributing factors toward the futility of humanitarian relief operations.Practical implicationsThis study is significant as it endeavors to contribute toward humanitarian supply chain management, specifically in assisting humanitarian organizations with suggested strategies that would work toward making humanitarian relief supply chains more resilient. However, more research needs to be done toward optimized implementation strategies for the suggested framework.Originality/valueIt is to the best knowledge of these researchers that this is a unique study carried out to examine humanitarian supply chain risk factors in Cyclone Idai relief operations in Zimbabwe.

This paper explores the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in implementing disaster management services in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani district. The tropical cyclone left footprints of humanitarian crises that overwhelmed the capacity of the Zimbabwean government and called for the intervention of international and local non-governmental organizations. This paper utilised the qualitative research methods guided by the exploratory research design. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 11 humanitarian organizations that rendered services during and in the aftermath of the disaster. Data were collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically with the aid of the Atlas.ti software. The study established that some of the setbacks faced by the humanitarian organizations in assisting the survivors of Cyclone Idai include bureaucracy standard set by the government, unfamiliarity with the disaster-stricken areas, lack of coordination among humanitarian organizations, militarisation of interventions, limited resources and inaccessibility of most communities owing to damaged roads.

PurposeClimate hazards in the form of cyclones are projected to become more intense under the pressures of future climate change. These changes represent a growing hazard to low lying coastal cities like Beira, Mozambique. In 2019, Beira experienced the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai. One of the many impacts resulting from this Cyclone was disrupted drinking water access. This investigation explores the distribution of Cyclone Idai’s impact on drinking water access via an environmental justice lens, exploring how preexisting water access characteristics may have predisposed households to the impacts of Cyclone Idai in Beria.Design/methodology/approachRelying on household survey data collected in Beira, the investigation applied a decision tree algorithm to investigate how drinking water disruption was distributed across the household survey sample using these preexisting vulnerabilities.FindingsThe investigation found that households that mainly relied upon piped water sources and experienced inconsistent access to water in the year prior to Cyclone Idai were more likely to experience disrupted drinking water access immediately after Cyclone Idai. The results indicate that residents in formal areas of Beira, largely reliant upon piped water supply, experienced higher rates of disrupted drinking water access following Cyclone Idai.Originality/valueThese findings question a commonly held assumption that informal areas are more vulnerable to climate hazards, like cyclones, than formal areas of a city. The findings support the inclusion of informal settlements in the design of climate change adaptation strategies.

Purpose There has been an avalanche of global natural disasters in recent times. In recent years approximately 210 million people were affected, an estimated economic cost of US$153bn was incurred and 68,000 deaths were recorded. This was a work up call that made it imperative for humanitarian actors to impetuously adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) to timeously assist affected populations in disaster prevention, mitigation response and recovery However, the use of ICTs in the humanitarian field is still at its infancy in most third world countries. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the utilization of ICTs in humanitarian relief operations associated with Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/approach Using a pragmatic approach, the study gathered data using semistructured questionnaires that were triangulated with interviews of humanitarian staff that were involved in Cyclone Idai relief efforts. Findings An observed suboptimal utilization of ICTs was further disadvantaged by the inequitable distribution of communication infrastructure. However, despite the suboptimal usage, there was a significant positive influence of ICT adoption on effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility in humanitarian relief operations. Originality/value Optimal use of ICTs has the potential to revolutionize humanitarian supply chain management. A smooth transition to new technologies is recommended in which personnel are given professional development opportunities on a regular basis.

Purpose The world-over, it is evident that, numbers and frequency of natural disasters have increased tremendously. The effects have given birth to a worldwide, all-inclusive humanitarian response and preparedness. In Zimbabwe, Cyclone Idai has ushered in the exploitation of various social media platforms by humanitarian organisations as a way of reaching out to the wider population on critical issues pertaining to the devastating effects of the cyclone. This study herein, aims to interrogate the efficacy of various social media platforms that were exploited by various humanitarian organisation involved in the Cyclone Idai humanitarian response. The various social media platforms are interrogated to establish their contribution to inclusivity or lack of it in relaying humanitarian interventions. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach was used to conduct the research. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to gather the data. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires with Likert scales and other closed questions provided. These were administered to representatives from the government, United Nations, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and members of the community. On the contrary, qualitative data was gathered from members of the community and humanitarian organisations through open-ended responses provided from interviews. Quantitative data was collected from a total of 384 stakeholder representatives who were randomly selected from Chimanimani district of Manicaland province. In addition, 12 interview participants were purposively selected to complement the research tools listed above. Findings The study findings show that social media platforms to a greater extent are effective tools for creating inclusive humanitarian response. The study findings reveal that social media has a significant positive influence on inclusive humanitarian response, with a 5% level of significance. These quantitative results agree with results obtained from interviewed participants. Managers of NGOs, community-based groups, government agencies and churches engaged in managing rescue, relief and humanitarian aid are supposed to access the study's findings in the future, and may find the results resourceful. Research limitations/implications This study's generalisability to other districts and countries is constrained because it was conducted in the setting of the Chimanimani district. Future research can therefore be expanded to other Zimbabwean areas as well as to other countries in the Southern African region and beyond. Practical implications Humanitarian supply chain managers engaged in managing rescue, relief and humanitarian aid are proposed as having access to the study's findings in the future as they may find them useful. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing insights that can improve information flow. This can be achieved by including different stakeholders in decision-making through the use of social media during disaster preparedness and response processes and helping them to better prepare for and respond to future disasters.