Cyclone Idai displaces 500,000

Survivors of a cyclone that pummeled southern Africa began receiving medicine, food and tents Tuesday as flood waters receded, while officials warned up to 500,000 people are displaced in the storm-struck region.

Cyclone Idai smashed into Mozambique's coast, unleashing hurricane-force wind and rain that flooded swathes of the poor country before battering eastern Zimbabwe -- killing more than 700 people across the two countries according to estimates.

An area of roughly 3,125 square kilometers is still under water and three million people across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been affected by the cyclone and its aftermath, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

"Close to 500,000 have been displaced in the three countries," the WFP said in a briefing note.