Adrian from Mozambique lost everything due to Cyclone Idai

In 2019, Cyclone Idai swept over Mozambique. Due to the cyclone and heavy rainfall, the river by which Adrian (59) lived overflowed. He lost everything: his house and all his crops were destroyed by the water. He was taken in by Dorcas and received food and hygiene materials. A year after the cyclone, Adrian moved with his family to a sturdily built house, which is also further from the river. Here, he feels safe.

Adrian’s life essentially consists of two parts: before and after Cyclone Idai. Before the cyclone, he lived with his family and his brothers and their families on a farm. They lived close to the river in the Dombe region, near the border with Zimbabwe. Adrian and his brothers mainly grew maize and other vegetables. The families could live well off the yield.

Awoken by the frogs

When Cyclone Idai swept over Mozambique in March 2019, Adrian initially did not notice much. “It was a bit windy, but it was not really a storm. It also rained lightly all day.” Therefore, Adrian and his family went to bed as usual in the evening. “Suddenly, I woke up in the middle of the night because of the frogs making a huge racket. I looked outside and saw that the river had risen significantly and there was a huge mudflow.”

Food packages in a tented camp

At some point, the water reached Adrian’s farm, and he decided to flee to a safer place with his family. The flooded river eventually destroyed the entire farm; everything was lost. Adrian and his family had nothing left. They were taken in at a tented camp set up by Dorcas and other organisations. Adrian: “We had nothing left, but fortunately, we received food packages, so we always had enough to eat.”

“I feel safe here”

Returning to their old home by the river was not an option for Adrian. He no longer felt safe there. Then he heard about a project by Dorcas in which over forty new houses were being built on a piece of land further from the river. “I am so grateful that we received one of the houses. This house is sturdily built and has windows and doors that can be closed. I feel safe here,” says Adrian, beaming.

The baby is born

The story of moving from the tent camp to their new house is a special one. Adrian loves to tell it to anyone who will listen. “After we received the keys, we immediately started cleaning, and we moved in the same day. On our first night in the house, my pregnant wife went into labour, and our son was born. By God’s grace, we received this house at the right time.”

This story was achieved under Dorcas guidance, and now forms part of the legacy and track record that Mãos Unidas proudly continues to build upon.

Date posted: 11 November 2024