UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is expected to announce in the coming days a new flash appeal to help people affected by Cyclone Idai in southern Africa, a UN spokesman said Friday.
The death toll in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi is described by various official sources as more than 700. On Tuesday, an appeal for 282 million U.S. dollars was launched.
"An updated flash appeal, including new needs, is expected in the coming days," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The cumulative impact on food security will be significant. The maize crop harvest, which will begin in May, will be 60 percent of the average production, with a further risk of deterioration in food security."
Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Mozambique, said the situation is appalling.
"I have aerial reconnaissance out now just to see if we contact anyone who needs assistance," he said. "The area was absolutely devastated. They are getting what they need but we're not getting everybody yet," he told reporters in New York via telephone.
While Stampa had no specific data on casualties, he said deaths in Mozambique were in the "high 400s." The Mozambican government's latest tally was 468 dead with the figure expected to rise.
Haq, the spokesman, said 181 deaths were reported by humanitarian colleagues in Zimbabwe with 175 injured, and 59 dead in Malawi where another 672 were reported injured.
