Tropical Cyclone Jude Claims Lives and Displaces Thousands in Southern Africa
Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in nine deaths across Mozambique and Malawi, with severe flooding displacing thousands. Efforts to provide relief are challenged by damaged infrastructure. This incident follows the earlier Cyclone Chido, which caused significant casualties in the same regions.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has claimed the lives of at least nine individuals across Mozambique and Malawi. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) reported that six fatalities occurred in Mozambique, alongside 20 injuries and the displacement of 9,525 people across Nampula, Niasa, and Zambezia provinces.
In neighboring Malawi, three additional fatalities were confirmed, and approximately 20,000 individuals in the southern region have been rendered homeless due to extensive flooding caused by the cyclone. Chiphiliro Khamula, the spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, indicated that those affected are being accommodated in evacuation centers.
The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday and subsequently impacted southern Malawi, leading to heavy flooding from Monday through Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that relief operations face significant challenges due to inaccessible roads and washed-away bridges.
It is important to remember that Cyclone Chido similarly devastated both countries in December of last year, resulting in a tragic loss of 73 lives in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in nine fatalities and widespread damage across Mozambique and Malawi, displacing thousands and causing significant hardship. The cyclone’s aftermath highlights the ongoing vulnerability of these regions to severe weather events, underscoring the need for effective disaster response and management strategies. The difficulties in executing relief operations further amplify the urgency for infrastructural improvements to ensure aid accessibility in the future.
Original Source: news.az
