«Everything was destroyed, it was so sad»

In December 2024, Cyclone Chido destroyed homes and livelihoods in Cabo Delgado region for 455,000 people and local health centers in northern Mozambique. Helvetas through the Cabo Delgado Health Promotion Project (CDHP), funded by the Swiss Embassy in Mozambique, provided rapid emergency aid and, in 2025, supported 6 healthcare facilities in the affected coastal region of Mecúfi district in rebuilding walls, roofs, latrines, water pipes, electricity, and furniture. Additional bracing in the buildings should be able to withstand future strong winds. Helvetas had already raised awareness of hygiene among the population before the storm, which meant that serious diseases such as cholera, which usually spread quickly when water pipes burst, could be prevented in the project area.