Mozambique Faces Severe Consequences from Cyclone Chido: Immediate Relief Needed

Tropical Cyclone Chido struck northern Mozambique on December 15, 2024, causing extensive damage in Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. With 174,000 individuals affected, 34 fatalities, and widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, the cyclone exacerbates existing vulnerabilities in the region. Immediate action is required to support recovery and food security for affected households.

On December 15, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck land in the Mecufi district of Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, unleashing destructive winds reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h and torrential rainfall amounting to over 250 mm within a single day. This natural disaster inflicted extensive destruction across northern Mozambique, particularly affecting Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces, while Tete and northern Zambézia experienced additional repercussions.

As reported by the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) by December 17, approximately 174,000 individuals have been impacted, with 34 fatalities and 319 injuries documented. The cyclone has wreaked havoc on infrastructure, demolishing more than 35,000 homes and critically damaging schools, health facilities, and water systems. The aftermath has intensified existing vulnerabilities, especially in Cabo Delgado, which is already contending with conflict-related displacement and an ongoing cholera outbreak.

Particularly in the Mecufi and Chiure districts, the devastation is nearly total, with all homes affected and health services rendered inoperative. Additionally, agricultural losses have been catastrophic, with extensive damage occurring to crops such as maize, beans, sesame, and cassava. This has left communities without sufficient food stocks and little immediate opportunity for recovery. In the Nampula province’s Memba and Erati districts, more than 3,600 families have been impacted, losing vital fishing assets that are integral to their livelihoods.

The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure has significantly heightened the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera. Furthermore, communication and power disruptions are severely obstructing ongoing humanitarian efforts. Given that over 80 percent of Mozambique’s population relies on agriculture for sustenance and income, there is an urgent imperative for swift action to assist affected households in rebuilding their lives, securing their means of livelihood, and restoring access to nutritious food.

Tropical Cyclone Chido has emerged as a significant humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, particularly affecting provinces already struggling with socio-economic challenges. The cyclone’s landfall in Cabo Delgado province exacerbated the region’s existing vulnerabilities, such as conflict-related displacement and public health concerns, specifically the cholera outbreak. The influx of heavy rains and strong winds not only caused immediate infrastructural damage but also devastated agricultural sectors that are critical to the livelihoods of millions of Mozambicans. The situation necessitates urgent relief measures to mitigate long-term adverse effects on food security and health.

Cyclone Chido’s impact on Mozambique has been devastating, with severe implications for the affected populations, especially in Cabo Delgado province. The massive loss of homes, crops, and infrastructure has left thousands in dire circumstances, heightening the risk of disease and food insecurity. With an overwhelming majority of the population depending on agriculture, immediate and coordinated humanitarian efforts are essential to facilitate recovery and restore livelihoods for those impacted by this catastrophic event.

Original Source: reliefweb.int