The devastating cost and impact of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, continues to rise as hundreds of thousands of people are in need of food, water and shelter.
As of Monday, at least 847 people had been reported killed by the storm, the flooding it caused and heavy rains before it hit.
The World Bank estimates the direct economic losses from Cyclone Idai in Mozambique to range from $656 million-$773 million, covering damage to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture, a note sent out via the United Nations said on Thursday.
In the note, dated April 4, the World Bank said its approach does not capture indirect losses such as reduced productivity or business interruptions, and could only provide a certain degree of accuracy.
On March 16 the storm hit eastern Zimbabwe, where it flattened homes and flooded communities in the Chimanimani and Chipinge districts, the U.N. migration agency puts the death toll at 259.
Zimbabwe on Tuesday appealed for $613 million in aid from local and foreign donors to cover food imports and help with the humanitarian crisis.
An appeal document given to reporters by the ministry of information showed the government is seeking about $300 million in aid for food while the rest would fund emergency shelters, logistics and telecommunications among other needs
