Tropical Storm Jude Floods Mozambique: A Flash Update on the Humanitarian Crisis

Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on 10 March 2025, with winds of 140 km/h and risking the lives of 780,000 individuals. The ongoing humanitarian response is inadequate, burdened by simultaneous challenges from previous cyclones and health crises like cholera. Urgent aid is required to address the widespread devastation and support recovery in affected provinces.

On 10 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique’s Mossuril district within Nampula province, boasting maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. Approximately 780,000 individuals are at risk due to the expected high winds and heavy rainfall associated with the cyclone, particularly in Nampula and Zambezia provinces. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) has issued a flood alert across several main rivers due to these conditions.

In advance of the cyclone’s impact, Mozambique’s Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework was activated, enabling the rapid disbursement of funds by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support humanitarian activities up to three days prior to landfall. Despite these preparations, the ongoing humanitarian response is facing significant strain due to concurrent crises from previous cyclones, food insecurity, cholera outbreaks, political conflicts, and dwindling funding resources. Current funding for the Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal is only 0.2 percent.

Cyclone Jude is predicted to persist over Nampula province throughout the day, delivering intense rainfall exceeding 250 mm in a 24-hour period and triggering severe thunderstorms that may lead to widespread flooding across Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala provinces. The Hydrological Department has raised flood alerts in primary river basins. Initial assessments indicate substantial damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure, including roads and communication networks, with rapid needs assessments being prepared by INGD and IOM-DTM teams.

Both Nampula and Zambezia provinces are currently contending with cholera outbreaks, with recent reports indicating 36 cases in Nampula and 8 in Zambezia. The cholera response is significantly hindered by damage to healthcare and sanitation facilities from previous cyclones. Additionally, misinformation and violence against health workers complicate efforts, as flooding and population displacements from evacuations pose a further risk of spreading the disease to new regions.

Tropical Cyclone Jude is the third cyclone to impact Mozambique in the last three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which previously wreaked havoc on northern provinces, affecting approximately 684,000 people. Recovery efforts in Nampula are still underway from these earlier disasters, with only 14 percent of targeted individuals receiving life-saving assistance in four districts. The cumulative humanitarian challenges continue to escalate, necessitating immediate and comprehensive aid efforts.

In summary, Mozambique faces severe consequences from Tropical Cyclone Jude, which has resulted in significant risks for over 780,000 people due to high winds and heavy rainfall. The humanitarian response is critically strained following previous cyclones and ongoing health crises. Active cholera outbreaks, damaged infrastructure, and restricted resources further exacerbate this situation. Immediate and effective aid is necessary to mitigate the disastrous impact of this cyclone and support recovery efforts for the population affected.

Original Source: www.unocha.org