Four days in a tree with a newborn baby

Amela, 20, gave birth to her third child a few days before Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique.

She was at home with her husband, her sister-in-law and her children when their house fell down and flooded. She and her family were forced to flee. In the confusion, they ran in different directions – Amela ran to the nearest tree with her newborn, losing sight of her husband and other children.

“All I could think about was saving myself and my baby. I climbed on top of a tree. I spent four days on top of the tree before I saw a boat coming. I was so tired but so happy that help was finally coming.”

Amela made it to safety with more than 800 others – including numerous unaccompanied children and expectant mothers – thanks to the search and rescue efforts of Plan International, a member of the Humanitarian Coalition.

Amela’s two older children and sister-in-law were located in a relative’s house on the other side of town where they had escaped to safety.

Humanitarian Coalition member agencies continue to work to care for separated children and reunite families in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.