This policy briefing presents cyclone disaster management strategies for effective relief and recovery in affected communities. Recently, in Southern Africa climate change has manifested through cyclones that have devastated and displaced a significant number of individuals and households, shattering their long-term goals and aspirations. African governments and relief agencies are often overwhelmed by the responsibility of ensuring community relief and recovery from climate-related disasters, given the unforeseen demand on resources. Most interventions have a short-term alleviation impact while long-term goals fall away. Based on a mixed methods research design, this briefing argues that predisaster fortification of communities and migration capacitation are effective long-term adaptation strategies after devastating events. It calls for the integration of community resilience building and environmental migration into national frameworks for adaptation and broader development plans.
