Cyclone Jude has left more than 17,000 children in Mozambique deprived of education, adding to the ongoing crisis created by previous cyclones Chido and Dikeledi. Approximately 747,000 individuals have been affected by the cyclone’s severe winds and flooding, with extensive damage to infrastructure reported. UNICEF representatives are calling for urgent assistance to provide much-needed relief and resources.
Mozambique has recently been impacted by Cyclone Jude, the third cyclone to strike the nation in a few months. Initial assessments reveal that approximately 20,000 children have lost access to education due to the destruction of schools and more than 20,000 homes have sustained damage. Additionally, it is estimated that 747,000 individuals, half of whom are children, have been affected by strong winds, torrential rainfall, and subsequent flooding that has particularly hit the provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia.
Cyclone Jude made landfall on March 10, bringing winds reaching 195 km/h and heavy rainfall. The storm inflicted severe infrastructural damage, impacting roads, water systems, electricity lines, health facilities, and educational institutions. According to initial reports from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), around 17,000 children are currently without access to educational opportunities, and this figure is anticipated to rise.
The situation has created vulnerabilities, as severe flooding raises the risks of water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea, which pose significant threats to children’s health. Additionally, extensive damage to major thoroughfares is hampering the distribution of essential goods. This calamity comes at a time when over 730,000 Mozambicans are already grappling with the repercussions of prior cyclones, Chido and Dikeledi, which devastated over 150,000 homes, 471 schools, and 100 health facilities.
Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique, emphasized the dire circumstances: “The impact of Cyclone Jude on hundreds of thousands of children and families already affected by Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi is devastating. Extreme winds and heavy rains have destroyed critical infrastructure and are depriving vulnerable children of essential services.” Eagleton further stated that “UNICEF is working with partners and the government to respond and meet the needs of those affected, but having already responded to two cyclones in the space of just a few months, we are stretched thin and urgently need additional resources.”
Cyclone Jude has significantly impacted the educational landscape and infrastructure in Mozambique, leaving over 17,000 children without access to schooling. The cyclone’s devastation has compounded the challenges faced by communities that have already suffered from previous storms. Immediate response efforts by UNICEF and its partners are essential to address the urgent needs arising from this disaster, particularly in preventing disease outbreaks and restoring educational facilities.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
