Cyclone Jude has resulted in 17 fatalities across Mozambique and Madagascar, injuring over 130 and displacing thousands. The storm caused extensive damages, including flooding and infrastructural destruction, particularly in Nampula, Mozambique. Urgent humanitarian aid is needed to support the affected populations as the cyclone has hindered recovery efforts and exacerbated existing vulnerabilities.
Cyclone Jude has inflicted significant destruction in East Africa, resulting in 17 fatalities—16 in Mozambique and one in Madagascar, as reported by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). Additionally, over 130 individuals sustained injuries, and four remain missing as of March 18. The cyclone has displaced more than 10,500 people in Madagascar and nearly 5,000 in Malawi, with a total impact on around 400,000 individuals across the affected areas.
The storm made landfall in northern Madagascar on March 8, leading to extensive displacements and the establishment of temporary shelters, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Following this, Cyclone Jude intensified as it crossed the Mozambique Channel and made landfall in Mozambique’s coastal district of Mossuril in Nampula province on March 10, boasting maximum winds of 140 kph (87 mph) and gusts reaching 195 kph (121 mph), alongside unprecedented rainfall exceeding 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) within 24 hours, prompting significant flooding.
In Mozambique, flight operations were disrupted, and an estimated 900 homes were completely destroyed. The World Food Programme reported that approximately 49,593 hectares (122,547 acres) of farmland were inundated, raising alarms over potential food shortages. A cholera outbreak was also reported in Larde, Nampula, amid the flooding. A UNICEF spokesperson indicated that the river basins and dams were already at capacity, exacerbating the flooding situation, resulting in over 400,000 power outages in Nampula.
Preemptively, the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $6 million to facilitate early warnings and to provide critical supplies such as temporary shelters and hygiene resources before the cyclone’s arrival. Cyclone Jude traversed Malawi between March 10 and 12, brining further heavy rainfall before returning to Mozambique.
OCHA noted that, as of March 18, the cyclone has damaged or destroyed 70,000 homes, 247 schools, 72 health facilities, and key infrastructure, including water systems and electricity lines in Mozambique. Cyclone Jude is the third severe weather event to impact Mozambique within a three-month span, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi. On March 15, the cyclone made another landfall in Madagascar, severely affecting schools with substantial damages across various classrooms, leaving approximately 48,000 students without access to education. OCHA highlighted that this occurrence marks an unprecedented event, with a robust weather system crossing the entirety of Madagascar’s southern region.
In summary, Cyclone Jude has caused extensive damage and disruption across East Africa, particularly affecting Mozambique and Madagascar. The storm’s impact includes significant fatalities, widespread displacement, infrastructural destruction, and health crises due to flooding. With the extensive damage to educational facilities and vital infrastructure, the situation requires urgent humanitarian assistance and support to mitigate the repercussions of this disaster.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
