More than 305,000 children in Mozambique have had their education interrupted due to the damage caused by the tropical cyclone that swept through southwest Africa last month, the United Nations children’s agency said on Thursday.
Schools were among the infrastructure destroyed by Cyclone Idai, forcing learners to halt their education as they wait to find new places.
Thousands of school going children were also forced to halt their education as their families fled their homes following the effects of the cyclone.
UNICEF warned that a prolonged interruption of in access to learning could have devastating consequences for children over both the short and long term.
Cyclone Idai swept through Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, leaving a trail of destruction and displacements.
Mozambique was the most affected by the storm, with 602 people killed and over 1,600 injured.
In Zimbabwe, 344 people were killed and 200 others were injured as the storm swept through the country’s Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
60 Malawians were also killed in the tropical cyclone, with over 67o injured.
Over 3 million people were affected by the storm, as many people lost their homes and other property to the raging floods.
According to the World Bank, the affected countries will need over $2 billion to recover.
