Impact of Tropical Cyclone Jude on Mozambique: Initial Situational Overview
On March 6, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude formed, impacting Mozambique with severe winds and rain, causing loss of life, injuries, and displacement. The northern region’s humanitarian response has been stretched due to earlier cyclones. Accommodation centers have been activated, but many sites remain unrecognized. There is an urgent need to address the living conditions of affected populations and support education recovery efforts amidst ongoing challenges.
On March 6, 2025, a low-pressure system transformed into Tropical Cyclone Jude, impacting Mozambique when it made landfall on March 10 in the Nampula Province. The cyclone brought severe winds of 195 km/h and exceeded 250mm of rainfall in 24 hours, resulting in significant destruction, loss of life, injuries, displacement, and escalating humanitarian needs across affected urban and rural areas.
The northern region’s humanitarian response, already strained from Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, became further stressed following the activation of anticipatory flood and cyclone response measures by the Technical Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management on March 8. Consequently, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) response initiated its operations on March 9, focusing on pre-positioning tools and community engagement to enhance disaster preparedness.
Local authorities have established accommodation centers in Nampula and Zambézia provinces, deploying site management teams for needs assessments and coordination. Evaluations by the CCCM and Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams revealed 59 temporary accommodation sites across nine districts in Nampula and one in Namacurra, Zambézia. However, the lack of formal recognition for these sites necessitates improved collaboration among the CCCM Cluster, CCCM/DTM teams, local government, and authorities to facilitate effective disaster response and accurate mapping.
Many affected families are forced to seek refuge in makeshift accommodations such as school rooms, health centers, and unfinished buildings while attempting to rebuild their homes. Among the pressing needs are food, water, shelter, health services, and sanitation. There is an urgent demand to elevate living conditions in temporary accommodations and install essential services such as handwashing stations and communal toilets.
The cyclone’s impact also disrupted education with facilities being repurposed as temporary shelters, thereby delaying children’s return to school. This situation underscores the necessity for an organized approach to support displaced families and re-establish educational services. Partners are encouraged to engage and coordinate efforts while integrating education needs in their response strategies.
The CCCM Cluster continues to update and manage the list of temporary accommodation facilities alongside DTM and local authorities. However, as families relocate from these sites, planned and unexpected deactivations may occur due to the ongoing precarious conditions.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has profoundly impacted Mozambique, causing severe damage and heightened humanitarian needs. The response operations led by the CCCM have begun, focusing on preparedness and initial assessments. Collaboration between various stakeholders is crucial to effectively address the challenges faced by displaced communities, particularly regarding accommodation, essential services, and educational needs. Continuous monitoring and coordination will be necessary to adapt to the evolving situation and support recovery efforts.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
