Four months ago, the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão in Cape Verde were hit by torrential rains brought by Tropical Storm Erin. Within hours, streets turned into raging torrents, sweeping away everything in their path.
Thousands of homes and critical infrastructure were destroyed or severely damaged. Without strong national and international solidarity, and a rapid, coordinated response, many affected families would not have been able to cope with the impact.
In Bela Vista, one of the hardest-hit neighbourhoods of Covada de Bruxa in São Vicente, the visible signs of the floods have slowly faded, but the invisible scars remain.
Beyond the appearance of a return to normalcy, thousands of families continue to grapple with the long-term impacts of the disaster, struggling each day to rebuild their lives and restore their dignity.
“When the flooding began, I wasn’t at home,” recalls Vera Lucia Andrade, a mother of six and a street vendor. “I ran back to try to save my child, who had stayed behind, and a few belongings, but the water was already everywhere.”
A vital emergency response
In the immediate aftermath of the floods, the Cape Verde Red Cross, supported by the IFRC, sprang into action. Hundreds of volunteers worked alongside local authorities to assist affected communities.
The IFRC launched an emergency appeal for 3 million Swiss francs and mobilized 565,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cape Verde Red Cross in assisting those affected. Specialized teams, including Emergency Response Units (ERUs), were also deployed to strengthen the response.
So far, more than 1,000 families have received assistance, including food kits and essential household items, while over 470 families have benefited from health support. Hygiene promotion activities have also reached more than 8,400 people, helping communities safeguard their health and well-being.
Supporting the recovery of the most vulnerable families
As the emergency phase gradually transitions to recovery, efforts are now focused on restoring livelihoods. Some 580 households in São Vicente and Santo Antão have begun receiving cash assistance of 26,000 Cape Verdean escudos (CVE), or 235 euros, to help meet their basic needs.
For Vera Lucia, head of household, this support is vital.
“I truly appreciate the support from the Red Cross,” she says*. “As a street vendor, I had not been able to work since the floods. With the money I received, I will be able to restart and expand my small business and provide for my family*. I also hope later to build a protective wall behind my house to better withstand future floods.”
Beyond cash assistance, the Cape Verde Red Cross, with support from the IFRC, is also helping to rehabilitate community water supply systems severely damaged by the floods in Santo Antão. Restoring these infrastructures is essential to prevent the risk of waterborne diseases and strengthen community resilience.
“Here in Ribeira Da Cruz, people rely for potable water from the spring water catchment which has hardly affected,” says Vincenzo Buccheri, Team Leader of the ERU Water Supply Rehabilitation. “Thanks to our Cash for Work program, the community is rehabilitating infrastructure without the need for external contractors,”
“We provide the materials, while residents, 50 per cent men and 50 per cent women, carry out the work themselves. This approach not only strengthens community resilience but also ensures sustainable ownership of the infrastructure.”
Maintaining the momentum of solidarity
For Julio Mondlane, IFRC Operations Manager in Cape Verde, transitioning from emergency response to recovery requires sustained commitment.
“The emergency response met the immediate needs of many communities,” he says*. “Now, our priority is to help families recover sustainably and restore their livelihoods, while strengthening the Country Early Warning Early Actions Systems. This takes time, resources, and continued support from donors and partners. Without it, the most vulnerable communities risk remaining trapped in the crisis*.”