Impact of Tropical Cyclone Jude in Mozambique: A Humanitarian Crisis

Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on 10 March 2025, affecting over 375,214 individuals and damaging 81,149 homes. The storm intensified existing vulnerabilities due to prior cyclones, leading to severe flooding and increasing health risks, notably cholera. Authorities continue to assess urgent humanitarian needs across affected provinces.

On 10 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique’s Nampula province, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. As of 13 March, the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) reported that approximately 375,214 individuals have been affected and 81,149 homes have sustained damage or destruction. The severe flooding, combined with existing infrastructure damage, has intensified vulnerabilities for communities in Nampula and Zambezia, who are already facing food insecurity and limited access to essential services.

This cyclone season has been notably harsh, with earlier storms, Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, impacting approximately 684,000 people in December 2024 and January 2025, respectively. As Cyclone Jude progressed inland, it weakened into a severe storm, passing through the provinces of Manica, Niassa, Sofala, and Tete. The consecutive cyclones have collectively exacerbated humanitarian needs across these regions.

Health risks are escalating, particularly in Nampula province, where 56 cholera cases had been reported as of 14 March 2025. Although no new cases emerged in the previous 24 hours, the risk of further outbreaks remains concerning due to contaminated water sources and crowded temporary shelters.

Preliminary findings from an Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA), carried out by IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix alongside the CCCM Cluster and INGD, reveal more than 61 temporary accommodation facilities hosting displaced populations. These facilities provide essential shelter for evacuated households while authorities and humanitarian agencies concentrate on assessing and responding to immediate needs, which include food assistance, safe water supply, sanitation, healthcare, and protection services.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has impacted Mozambique’s Nampula province significantly, endangering the lives of more than 375,000 people and causing extensive damage. The cyclone’s effects have compounded the difficulties faced by vulnerable populations already suffering from previous storms and food insecurity. Health risks such as cholera are emerging, necessitating urgent humanitarian assistance in various sectors to address the immediate challenges at hand.

Original Source: reliefweb.int