Mozambique Situation Report: Impact of Tropical Cyclone Jude
Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on March 10, 2025, causing severe damage and increased humanitarian needs. Humanitarian capacities are overstretched due to impacts from two previous cyclones. Local authorities have initiated accommodation centers, but many sites remain unrecognized. Families face dire living conditions while urgent needs for food, water, and health services must be addressed. Coordination and education recovery efforts are paramount as communities recover from the cyclone’s effects.
The Mozambique situation report pertaining to Tropical Cyclone Jude, released on March 13, 2025, highlights the emergence of the cyclone on March 6, 2025, after a low-pressure system formed in the Indian Ocean. Upon reaching land on March 10, in Mossuril, Nampula Province, the cyclone brought winds reaching 195 km/h and heavy rainfall exceeding 250 mm in 24 hours, causing infrastructure damage, fatalities, injuries, and displacement, escalating humanitarian needs in both urban and rural areas.
In the northern region, the humanitarian response capabilities are strained due to the aftermath of prior cyclones, namely Cyclone Chido in December 2024 and Cyclone Dikeledi in January 2025. Given the situation, anticipatory actions for floods and cyclones were activated by the Technical Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CTGD) on March 8, leading to a prompt response from the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) on March 9 in Angoche and Mogincual. Preparedness actions included pre-positioning cleaning tools, disseminating information to communities, engaging with disaster risk reduction committees, and coordinating with the National Disaster Management Institute (INGD).
Local authorities have established accommodation centers in several districts of Nampula and Zambézia to assist those affected. Site management teams are in place for initial assessments and coordination. The CCCM and Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams have identified 59 temporary accommodation sites in nine districts of Nampula while one site was noted in Zambézia. Despite the needs being recognized, many facilities have yet to be officially designated as accommodation centers. Enhanced collaboration among the CCCM Cluster, CCCM/DTM teams, local authorities, and disaster risk reduction organizations is vital to ensure accurate resource mapping and efficient assistance.
Many families have become night commuters, finding refuge in temporary accommodations such as schoolrooms, churches, unfinished buildings, and the homes of neighbors while trying to rebuild their residences or adapt makeshift shelters. The urgent needs encompass food, water, shelter, healthcare, non-food items, sanitation, and education services. Furthermore, it is crucial to enhance living conditions for those affected, improve coordination mechanisms, and raise awareness on issues such as fire safety and cholera prevention. Basic services at reception areas, like handwashing stations and communal toilets, are necessary to diminish wait times for assistance and elevate living conditions. The cyclone has adversely affected education by damaging schools, delaying students’ return. Collaborative efforts are required to support displaced families and education recovery, with partners encouraged to incorporate educational considerations into their response strategies.
The CCCM Cluster persistently updates and manages the list of temporary accommodation facilities in collaboration with DTM and local authorities. However, deactivations of these sites, either planned or unplanned, are occurring as families depart, often due to challenging living conditions.
The outcome of Tropical Cyclone Jude has significantly exacerbated humanitarian challenges in Mozambique, following the impacts of prior cyclones. Urgent attention is warranted to improve living conditions, access to essential services, and educational opportunities for the affected populations. Enhanced coordination among various stakeholders remains critical to effectively address the ongoing needs and facilitate recovery efforts.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
