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Tropical Cyclone Idai
Following tropical cyclone Idai making landfall in Mozambique overnight on 14-15 March near Beira (Sofala), associated persistent heavy rain and strong winds significantly damaged transport infrastructure in the country, as well as in neighbouring Malawi and Zimbabwe. Mozambique has been hardest hit, especially the provinces of Manica, Zambezia and Sofala. Reports by humanitarian organisations on the ground indicate widespread devastation with many areas still cut off due to flooding. Disruption to overland travel and essential services – including communications networks, electricity, water supplies and medical care – in the affected areas is likely to persist over the coming week. On-going rain, in addition to the rainy season, which typically brings heavy rainfall and strong winds until April, is liable to complicate disaster-relief efforts and hinder improvements to accessibility, particularly in low-lying coastal areas and in the vicinity of major rivers and dams.
We are advising clients to defer non-essential travel to cyclone-affected areas until further notice, due to continued adverse weather conditions. For those with essential operations, such as those involved in the relief efforts, they should ensure that they have a secure location to base from with an independent power supply, satellite phones, fuel, 4 x 4 vehicles, medical supplies, and enough food and water for at least a 96 hour period, in addition to robust flood-specific journey management protocols.
For the latest information and advice, International SOS members are advised to contact their Assistance Centre, register for email alerts and review the travel security updates on Travel Security Online and through the International SOS Portal.
We also advise clients and members to download the International SOS Assistance App, here.
Notes to Editors
About International SOS and Control Risks
Our alliance brings together two of the world’s leading medical and security specialists, International SOS and Control Risks. Our combined resources and expertise are well placed to meet the customers’ growing need for integrated travel security risk services. Our solutions ensure that mobile employees are safe and productive and help employers with their duty of care obligations. 50 dedicated experts, located across the globe with access to over 200 dedicated travel security experts through 26 regional Assistance Centres and a partner network of over 700 accredited providers, produce global travel security information and analysis 24/7. We also provide travel security training, preventative travel assessment, support with the development of travel security risk policies, evacuation plans and the latest technology to enable clients to track and communicate with their mobile employees.
