Tropical Storm Jude: Flash Update on Situation in Mozambique as of March 10, 2025
Tropical Storm Jude made landfall in Mozambique on March 10, 2025, with winds reaching 140 km/h. Approximately 780,000 individuals are at risk due to severe weather conditions. Humanitarian responses are strained due to previous cyclones, cholera outbreaks, and insufficient funding. Initial assessments indicate significant damage to infrastructure and an urgent need for support in affected areas.
On March 10, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mossuril district, Nampula province, with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. Approximately 780,000 individuals are at risk, especially in the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia, due to the anticipated high winds and heavy rainfall, as stated by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD). The Hydrological Department has issued alerts for flooding along major river systems.
The Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework for Cyclones was activated to facilitate prompt responses, with humanitarian aid from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) being allocated three days in advance of the storm. However, humanitarian efforts are currently challenged due to simultaneous responses to prior cyclones – Chido in December 2024 and Dikeledi in January 2025 – alongside issues such as cholera outbreaks, food insecurity, and ongoing conflict, leading to a significant decline in available funding, with the Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal only 0.2% funded.
The cyclone is expected to result in heavy rains exceeding 250 mm within 24 hours, contributing to severe thunderstorms and potential flooding across Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala provinces. Reports of localized flooding have been received from districts including Nacala and Ilha de Moçambique. Teams from INGD and the International Organization for Migration (IOM-DTM) are on standby for immediate needs assessments following the cyclone’s impact.
In excess of 780,468 individuals are classified as being at high to very high risk, primarily located in Nampula (508,167) and Zambezia (272,302). Cholera cases are emerging in these provinces, with 36 and 8 reported in the last 24 hours, respectively. The ongoing cholera epidemic, alongside disruptions to health facilities from previous cyclones, complicates the response to the outbreak, and reports of misinformation and violence against health care workers exacerbate the crisis.
Cyclone Jude constitutes the third cyclone to impact Mozambique within three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which have devastated northern provinces, affecting 684,000 residents. In Nampula, recovery efforts from previous storms remain inadequate, with only 14% of individuals targeted receiving life-saving assistance in four districts.
This update underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Mozambique as Tropical Cyclone Jude exacerbates existing risks. Immediate responses, while mobilized, face significant hurdles due to prior cyclone impacts and funding challenges. The high incidence of cholera amidst ongoing crises further complicates the efforts to protect vulnerable populations. The international community must prioritize aid to ensure swift and effective recovery efforts for the affected populations in Mozambique.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
