Impact of Tropical Cyclone Chido on Northern Mozambique: Situation Report December 2024
Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, 2024, causing severe destruction across northern provinces. Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa were predominantly affected, with widespread damage to housing, schools, and healthcare facilities. The cyclone resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities while creating critical infrastructural challenges, particularly in water supply and healthcare delivery, necessitating urgent humanitarian responses and recovery efforts.
The Tropical Cyclone Chido significantly impacted northern Mozambique after making landfall in the Mecufi district on December 15, 2024, with winds reaching up to 180 km/h and rainfall exceeding 250 mm in 24 hours. As it progressed into Malawi and was forecasted to dissipate in Zimbabwe by December 17, its destruction was most acutely felt in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa. Preliminary reports indicate severe infrastructural damage, including the destruction of homes, schools, and health facilities, with alarming human casualties and increased health risks due to resource shortages.
In Cabo Delgado Province, particularly in Mecufi, Chiure, and Pemba districts, the devastation was overwhelming. Approximately 23,598 homes are reported destroyed, alongside 149 affected schools and 37 impacted health facilities. Infrastructure damage strained basic services, with numerous families left homeless and reports of injuries and fatalities emerging. In Mecufi alone, nearly all houses were damaged, leading to the displacement of approximately 400 families and confirming 16 fatalities thus far. Healthcare delivery is hampered, as professionals are forced to operate under dire conditions.
In Chiure district, the destruction comprises mainly of roofs being blown off and complete house collapses affecting over half of the homes. Water supply crises emerged in Megaruma, necessitating urgent trucking for over 3,000 families due to inaccessible water sources. Healthcare services remain critically limited, with only 30% operational capacity reported in local hospitals. In contrast, Metuge district faced even greater accessibility challenges, with assessments revealing total destruction in many areas. Furthermore, in Pemba, early assessments highlighted vulnerabilities in shelter structures, particularly those using metal sheets, leading to demographic risks of urban flooding.Additionally, populations displaced and at risk are being inadequately supported as registration and assistance operations are extensively lacking.
As of the latest reports, significant infrastructural and humanitarian challenges persist across the affected districts, emphasizing the need for coordinated response efforts to address immediate health risks, support displaced populations, and restore essential services in the area.
Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall on December 15, 2024, in northern Mozambique, wreaking havoc across the Cabo Delgado Province and beyond. It exemplifies the impacts of climate-related extreme events on vulnerable regions, showcasing the urgent need for disaster preparedness and responsive healthcare systems. With winds and rainfall of significant magnitudes, the cyclone’s aftermath presents a multi-faceted emergency requiring humanitarian aid and infrastructure rehabilitation for the affected communities. The event underscores the challenges Mozambique faces in managing natural disasters amid pre-existing vulnerabilities.
The aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Chido has left significant devastation across northern Mozambique, particularly in the Cabo Delgado Province. With widespread structural damage, a rising count of injuries and fatalities, and an urgent need for humanitarian aid, the situation calls for immediate and coordinated responses. Addressing the healthcare needs and infrastructural restoration will be imperative in assisting the affected populations and mitigating further risks as recovery efforts commence.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
