Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on 10 March 2025, impacting over 780,000 people largely in Nampula and Zambezia provinces. While early response efforts have been initiated, humanitarian aid is facing significant challenges due to ongoing crises from previous cyclones and disease outbreaks. The potential for severe flooding threatens to further worsen the already critical health situation, particularly regarding cholera.
On 10 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in the Mossuril district of Nampula province, bringing maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching up to 195 km/h. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) has identified at least 780,000 individuals at risk from strong winds and intense rainfall, especially in Nampula and Zambezia provinces, prompting the Hydrological Department to issue flooding warnings for major rivers in Nampula.
The Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework for Cyclones has been activated in response to this imminent disaster, with resources from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated for early humanitarian activities three days prior to the cyclone’s arrival. Nonetheless, humanitarian capacities are stretched thin, managing concurrent responses to previous cyclones (Chido in December 2024 and Dikeledi in January 2025) as well as addressing cholera outbreaks, food shortages, conflict, and political instability, with current funding at a mere 0.2 percent.
The cyclone is anticipated to remain over Nampula until the evening of 10 March, potentially delivering over 250 mm of rainfall within 24 hours that may lead to severe floods affecting Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala provinces. Reports indicate localized flooding in the districts of Nacala and Ilha de Moçambique, with significant damage expected to housing, infrastructure, transportation, and communications. Teams from INGD and IOM-DTM are prepared for immediate needs assessments in accessible areas.
Approximately 780,468 individuals are identified as being in extreme risk, with the affected population comprising 508,167 in Nampula and 272,302 in Zambezia. Recent cholera reports show cases in both provinces, with 36 reported in Nampula and 8 in Zambezia. The response to cholera has been complicated due to previous cyclone damage to health and sanitation infrastructure, alongside misinformation and violence against health workers, constituting a risk of the disease spreading amid anticipated flooding and population displacements.
TS Jude marks the third cyclone to impact Mozambique within three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which collectively affected approximately 684,000 people, particularly in Cabo Delgado and Nampula. Recovery from these prior disasters is incomplete, as only 14 percent of the targeted population has received necessary life-saving assistance in affected districts.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has generated critical risks for approximately 780,000 individuals in Mozambique, particularly within Nampula and Zambezia provinces. Despite the implementation of anticipatory actions, existing humanitarian resources are under great pressure from concurrent crises and previous cyclones. The rainfall from Cyclone Jude may exacerbate the cholera situation and hinder recovery processes. Timely funding and resource mobilization are essential to address the compounding challenges posed by this disaster.
Original Source: www.unocha.org
