Cyclone Jude Strikes Mozambique, Leaving Thousands of Children Deprived of Education
Cyclone Jude has struck Mozambique, leaving 17,000 children without education and affecting an estimated 747,000 people. The cyclone caused extensive destruction in northern provinces, exacerbating health risks and disrupting essential services. UNICEF has reported that resources are critically needed to support the affected populations.
Recent reports indicate that Cyclone Jude, the third cyclone to impact Mozambique in a short span, has devastated educational infrastructure, leaving approximately 17,000 children without access to education. This cyclone has not only destroyed over 20,000 homes but also severely affected the northern provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia.
This weather disaster has impacted an estimated 747,000 individuals, with children comprising about half of this number. Cyclone Jude, which struck Nampula on March 10, unleashed winds reaching 195 km/h, accompanied by torrential rainfall, leading to extensive damage to roads, water systems, electricity networks, health facilities, and schools.
UNICEF has reported that as the situation develops, the number of affected children may increase. Severe flooding is heightening the risk of water-borne diseases, such as cholera and diarrhoea, which pose serious health threats in the region. Furthermore, damage to vital roads hampers the distribution of essential goods, compounding the difficulties faced by communities already suffering from the effects of Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi.
Prior to Cyclone Jude, these previous storms had already wreaked havoc, destroying over 150,000 homes and affecting 471 schools and 100 health facilities.
Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique, stated, “The impact of Cyclone Jude on hundreds of thousands of children and families already affected by Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi is devastating. Extreme winds and heavy rains have destroyed critical infrastructure and are depriving vulnerable children of essential services.” She further emphasized the strained resources due to repeated cyclonic impacts, mentioning, “UNICEF is working with partners and the government to respond and meet the needs of those affected, but having already responded to two cyclones in the space of just a few months, we are stretched thin and urgently need additional resources.”
The recent devastation caused by Cyclone Jude in Mozambique highlights the critical challenges faced by children and families in the affected regions. With thousands deprived of education and the looming threat of diseases exacerbated by flooding, immediate assistance is necessary. The already strained resources of humanitarian organizations further complicate the situation, necessitating urgent support to adequately address the needs of the vulnerable populations impacted by consecutive cyclones.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
