A/HRC/42/43/Add.2 United Nations estimates that a total of 1.85 million people are in need of humanitarian support.12 39. As at 14 April 2019, the Government of Mozambique had identified and registered 41,742 vulnerable people, including older persons, in affected communities. 13 It is estimated that the cyclone and floods in Sofala and Manica Provinces affected at least 80,000 older persons, of whom at least 65,000 require urgent assistance. 14 Shelters and accommodation centres are overcrowded, raising specific protection and gender-based violence concerns for older women, as well as cases of inequitable assistance to older persons.15 40. Cyclone Kenneth also left a path of destruction, with more than 34,500 homes either totally destroyed or partially destroyed in Cabo Delgado alone. That is expected to have a severe impact on food security in the months to come, as the cyclone arrived during the main harvest. As of 1 May, more than 20,000 displaced people were staying in accommodation centres. 41. A rapid needs assessment for older persons in Sofala Province affected by Cyclone Idai found that almost half of them depended on family or friends to meet their basic needs, while 81 per cent cared for, on average, five dependants, including children. 16 Twentyseven per cent of the older respondents surveyed lived with a disability, while 20 per cent lived alone; 90 per cent of older persons reported not having enough food and 71 per cent of older women who lived alone could not afford to buy food (as opposed to 33 per cent of older men). Eighty per cent of those surveyed did not have any income and one third had had to borrow money since the cyclone. The assessment highlighted critical safety issues, with 47 per cent of older women and 21 per cent of older men believing that they were at risk of sexual abuse and 39 per cent of older women and 47 per cent of older men threatened by violence. 42. Only 10 per cent of older women and 16 per cent of older men indicated that they felt safe obtaining food. The majority also felt unsafe accessing water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, including drinking water, bathing facilities and toilets. Two thirds of older persons reported that they could not cope with the situation, even with additional support. Respondents also indicated a range of health conditions and were at increased risk of cholera owing to inadequate nutrition, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, significant caring responsibilities and barriers to accessing health services. Older persons face significantly higher mortality rates as a result of cholera than other age groups and 92 per cent of those surveyed either had no shelter or their shelter required urgent repairs. B. Discrimination 43. The Constitution encompasses the right to equality and states that no discrimination shall be permitted on legislative, political, economic or social grounds. Explicit protection is provided on the basis of colour, race, sex, ethnic origin, place of birth, religion, level of education, social position, parental marital status, profession or political preference. 44. The lack of equality and non-discrimination provisions in ordinary legislation results in impunity in cases of discrimination in access to public services such as health care, water and sanitation, among others, for persons in situations of vulnerability, including older 12 13 14 15 16 8 See Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Mozambique: Cyclone Idai and floods”, situation report No. 8 (9 April 2019). See Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, situation report No. 13 (14 April 2019). See National Emergency Operations Centre and others, “Multi-sectoral rapid assessment postCyclone Idai: 14 districts in Sofala and Manica Provinces 1–17 April 2019”, p. 7. Ibid., p. 18. HelpAge International, “Initial findings – rapid needs assessment of older people” (April 2019, forthcoming).