Tropical Cyclone Jude Impacts Mozambique: Flash Update as of March 10, 2025
Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique on March 10, 2025, with winds of 140 km/h and gusts up to 195 km/h. Approximately 780,000 people are at risk of severe weather-related impacts, compounded by existing cholera cases. The humanitarian response is strained due to previous cyclones and decreasing funding. Immediate action is in place for early response, yet resource mobilization remains a notable challenge.
As of March 10, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude has made landfall in the Mossuril district, located in Nampula province, with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD), approximately 780,000 individuals are at risk due to the cyclone’s high winds and expected torrential rains in the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia. The Hydrological Department has also issued alerts for potential flooding in significant river areas.
In response to the impending disaster, the Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework for Cyclones has been activated. Funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) have been quickly allocated to humanitarian partners, facilitating proactive measures three days prior to landfall. However, the humanitarian response is currently stretched thin due to concurrent responses to Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi and additional challenges such as cholera outbreaks and food insecurity, highlighting the struggle for resources amid dwindling funding with the Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal being only 0.2 percent-funded.
The Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) verifies that Cyclone Jude reached Mossuril at 06:00 local time on March 10. The cyclone is expected to cause continued heavy rainfall surpassing 250 mm within 24 hours, significantly raising flood risks in regions including Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala. Reports indicate localized flooding already affecting areas in Nacala and Ilha de Moçambique, with humanitarian teams pre-deployed for rapid assessments.
At least 780,468 individuals are deemed at high and very high risk along the cyclone’s path, with 508,167 located in Nampula and 272,302 in Zambezia. Complicating matters, cholera cases have been identified in both provinces, with significant new cases reported within 24 hours. The ongoing cholera situation has been exacerbated by the destruction of health services from prior cyclones, misinformation campaigns, and community hostility towards health workers. The flooding, coupled with evacuations, poses a severe risk of further cholera spread.
Cyclone Jude marks the third significant cyclone to affect Mozambique within a three-month timeframe following Chido in December 2024 and Dikeledi in January 2025, which collectively affected over 684,000 individuals. Recovery in Nampula has been severely challenged, with humanitarian aid reaching only 14 percent of those targeted across four districts.
Tropical Cyclone Jude poses a significant risk to Mozambique, affecting numerous individuals and exacerbating existing health crises. The proactive measures taken under the Mozambique Anticipatory Action Framework highlight the urgency of response, although resource constraints remain prevalent due to previous disasters. The cascading impacts of flooding, cholera, and community challenges necessitate coordinated efforts to alleviate suffering and rebuild resiliency in the affected regions.
Original Source: www.unocha.org
