Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on 10 March 2025 with damaging winds and potential flooding, affecting 780,000 people primarily in Nampula and Zambezia. Early humanitarian responses have been initiated, but capacity is strained due to recent cyclones and crises. Flooding and infections pose serious risks, particularly cholera, amidst overextended resources and limited funding.
Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall on 10 March 2025 in the Mossuril district of Nampula province, exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h, with gusts up to 195 km/h. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) reported that approximately 780,000 individuals are at risk from high winds and heavy rains in the Nampula and Zambezia provinces, where flooding alerts have been issued for major rivers by the Hydrological Department.
An early response has been activated through the Mozambique Anticipatory Action Framework for Cyclones. Funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has enabled rapid disbursement to humanitarian partners for preemptive action a few days prior to the cyclone’s landfall. However, humanitarian resources are stretched due to ongoing recovery from two earlier cyclones in late 2024 and early 2025, alongside challenges such as cholera outbreaks, food insecurity, and political conflict; the Flash Appeal for Tropical Cyclones is only 0.2 percent funded.
According to the Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), Cyclone Jude made its landfall at 06:00 local time in Mossuril district. It is expected to continue affecting Nampula until late on 10 March, with heavy rainfall anticipated to exceed 250 mm within 24 hours, which could potentially cause flooding in several provinces, including Cabo Delgado and Sofala. Preliminary reports indicate damage to infrastructure such as roads and communication lines, and the INGD and IOM-DTM are prepared for rapid assessments in accessible areas.
Currently, approximately 780,468 individuals are deemed at high or very high risk from the cyclone, including 508,167 in Nampula and 272,302 in Zambezia. Cholera cases have been reported due to the cyclone’s impact, with 36 cases in Nampula and eight in Zambezia within the past day. The ongoing cholera response is complicated by the previous destruction of health facilities and increasing misinformation.
Cyclone Jude is the third cyclone to affect Mozambique within the last three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which caused significant damage to northern provinces, impacting 684,000 individuals. The humanitarian response has reached only 14 percent of those targeted for assistance, leaving many in Nampula in critical need of recovery assistance.
Tropical Cyclone Jude poses severe risks to approximately 780,000 individuals in Mozambique, with significant impacting winds and rainfall expected. While anticipatory responses have been initiated, the humanitarian landscape remains challenged by prior cyclones and ongoing vulnerabilities, particularly in health and nutrition sectors. Comprehensive action and robust funding are essential to address immediate needs and enhance resilience against future disasters.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
