Cyclone Chido has inflicted substantial damage in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, impacting over 90,000 children and destroying thousands of homes. The disaster compounds existing challenges in a region beset by conflict, food insecurity, and health crises. UNICEF is mobilizing support to address these urgent needs, seeking $10 million for emergency response efforts.
Cyclone Chido has wreaked havoc in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique, where heavy winds and torrential rain have destroyed or severely damaged over 35,000 homes, impacting more than 90,000 children. This catastrophe unfolded following the storm’s landfall on Sunday, leading to significant destruction of infrastructure, including 186 classrooms and 20 health facilities. The situation is dire, as Cabo Delgado has been grappling with prolonged conflict, and the cyclone compounds existing vulnerabilities by threatening the spread of waterborne diseases among displaced communities.
UNICEF has highlighted the concerning backdrop against which this disaster occurred. “Mozambique is considered one of the most affected countries in the world by climate change, and children were already experiencing several life-threatening emergencies before Cyclone Chido,” stated Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique. An estimated 1.3 million people, primarily women and children, are currently displaced in the region due to ongoing violence.
Additionally, the cyclone’s effects extended into Nampula and Niassa provinces, leaving over 25,000 families without electricity. The existing cholera outbreak in the area is poised to worsen, with cyclone-induced damage to water facilities exacerbating the public health crisis. In light of these challenges, UNICEF has appealed for $10 million to support emergency response efforts, emphasizing the urgency to aid the vulnerable populations affected by these compounded crises.
Moreover, projections indicate that approximately 3.3 million people in Mozambique will face crisis-level food insecurity next year due to ongoing effects of climate change and factors such as El Niño and La Niña weather patterns. The recent impact of Cyclone Chido marks a continuation of a troubling trend, as increasingly severe cyclones have become a common occurrence in Eastern and Southern Africa, necessitating substantial support and intervention for affected communities.
Mozambique has been labeled as one of the countries most severely affected by climate change, facing numerous life-threatening challenges, particularly among children. The Cabo Delgado province has a tumultuous history marked by prolonged conflict, which has displaced over 1.3 million individuals, predominantly comprising women and children. The arrival of Cyclone Chido has not only caused devastation in its wake but also raised alarms over public health crises, such as cholera, in a region already grappling with severe disease outbreaks. As a result of these compounding crises, UNICEF has prioritized swift humanitarian action to address the needs of children in this vulnerable region.
In summary, Cyclone Chido has caused significant destruction in Mozambique, affecting tens of thousands of homes and children. The intersection of climate change and ongoing conflict has created a challenging environment for humanitarian responses. With growing food insecurity and health risks due to the cyclone’s damage, there is an urgent need for substantial assistance. UNICEF’s appeal for funding underscores the critical nature of the support required to mitigate the devastating impacts of this disaster on vulnerable populations.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
