Tropical Cyclone Jude: Urgent Humanitarian Response Needed in Mozambique
Tropical Cyclone Jude, now a severe tropical storm, has caused significant rainfall and flooding across northern Mozambique, affecting 747,000 individuals at high risk. The INAM has issued alerts for heavy rains, complicating ongoing humanitarian efforts amid a cholera outbreak. Access to affected areas remains hindered due to infrastructure damage from previous storms, necessitating urgent response actions.
On 11 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude transitioned into a severe tropical storm, affecting the weather in northern and central Mozambique. Intense rainfalls, reaching up to 100mm within 24 hours, have impacted nine provinces, heightening the risk for at least 747,000 individuals and moderately affecting 2.1 million due to potential high winds and flash flooding, particularly in Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia, according to the WFP TC Jude Emergency Impact Analysis.
The Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INAM) has issued warnings for expected torrential rains up to 200mm in 24 hours across Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia provinces. Concurrently, Nampula’s Hydrological Department has issued alerts regarding flooding risks along major rivers as the cyclone progresses. Early humanitarian responses have been activated through the Mozambique Anticipatory Action Framework for Cyclones, with rapid funding allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
The cyclone significantly threatens efforts to control a cholera outbreak declared by the Ministry of Health on 08 March in Larde, marking the fourth district affected in Nampula. Humanitarian capacity is severely stretched as responses continue for previous cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, along with other crises like food insecurity and political tensions.
Cyclone Jude caused severe weather conditions, including heavy rains exceeding 100mm in several provinces like Cabo Delgado and Sofala. Following its landfall in Nampula on 10 March, high winds reaching 140 km/h led to extensive damage, including the destruction of roofs and infrastructure. Reports indicate that access for relief operations is severely limited due to washed-out roads and bridges, complicating efforts to reach affected populations.
Humanitarian missions scheduled for 11 March were canceled due to damaged roads. Meanwhile, cholera cases continue to rise, with 27 new cases reported within 24 hours, primarily affecting areas that remain difficult to assess due to previous cyclone damage and ongoing misinformation. With TC Jude being the third cyclone to impact Mozambique in just three months, residents have not yet recuperated from prior disasters, underscoring the necessity of effective preparedness measures to mitigate waterborne disease outbreaks during flooding.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Jude has progressed into a severe tropical storm, impacting northern and central Mozambique significantly. The immediate effects include extensive rainfall, heightened flooding risks, and a resurgence in cholera cases. As communities face compounded challenges from previous cyclones, humanitarian responses remain critical yet limited due to infrastructural damage. Continued monitoring and swift action are essential to safeguard affected populations and curb the cholera outbreak.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
