Tropical Cyclone Jude has led to nine deaths across Mozambique and Malawi, displacing thousands and causing extensive damage. Mozambique reports six fatalities, while Malawi confirms three deaths and 20,000 homeless. Relief efforts face challenges due to damaged infrastructure, complicating humanitarian responses.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has tragically claimed at least nine lives across Mozambique and Malawi. According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Mozambique, six fatalities have been reported, alongside injuries to 20 individuals and the displacement of 9,525 residents in Nampula, Niasa, and Zambezia provinces. Moreover, Malawi has confirmed three deaths related to the cyclone, with approximately 20,000 individuals rendered homeless due to extensive flooding in the southern region.
Chiphiliro Khamula, a spokesperson for Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), indicated that the displaced populations are being accommodated in evacuation centers. The cyclone initially made landfall in northern Mozambique on Sunday, subsequently impacting southern Malawi, resulting in significant flooding from Monday through Wednesday.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that relief efforts are encountering challenges due to damaged roads and washed-out bridges, hindering access to affected areas. Notably, this incident follows last year’s Cyclone Chido, which resulted in 73 deaths in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Jude has caused significant devastation in both Mozambique and Malawi, resulting in nine confirmed fatalities, numerous injuries, and widespread displacements. The ongoing response efforts are severely limited by infrastructural damage resulting from the cyclone, which reflects the increasing vulnerability of these regions to such natural disasters. Previous cyclones have also led to substantial casualties, indicating a pressing need for improved disaster preparedness.
Original Source: news.az
