Urgent Aid for Cabo Verde Flood Victims

On the night of August 10–11, 2025, Tropical Storm Erin unleashed 192 mm of rain on the island of São Vicente in just five hours — more than the island's entire annual average. By dawn, entire neighborhoods in Mindelo had been swept away. Nine people lost their lives, more than 1,500 were displaced from their homes, and over 119,000 people across the archipelago were left without safe water, food, or shelter. For the communities of Santiago — where Coopera has worked side by side with local fishing families for more than a decade — the disaster struck with particular force.

Thanks to your generosity, Coopera's local team — already embedded in island communities through the Família di Mar program — mobilized within days of the disaster. We loaded and shipped one full humanitarian container from Spain and, over the months that followed, distributed 2,150 emergency aid kits to 410 families — reaching 1,680 people in total. We prioritized households headed by women, many of them peixeiras (artisanal fisherwomen) whose livelihoods were suspended by the floods, as well as families with young children or elderly members. Our coordinator Dani Cardoso worked hand in hand with local community leaders and municipal authorities to make sure no family was left behind.

Recovery is still underway. The fishing economy has yet to fully restart, and many families are still rebuilding their homes. Your donation is not just emergency relief — it is the foundation of a longer recovery that honors the dignity and resilience of these communities. We remain committed to staying present until every family we have accompanied has a stable roof, clean water, and a path back to their livelihood. Djunta Mon — let us join hands. Thank you for making this possible.