Cyclone Jude has resulted in 17 deaths in East Africa, with significant displacement and damage reported in Madagascar and Mozambique. Over 400,000 individuals were affected, and severe flooding was noted. The cyclone led to extensive destruction of infrastructure and exacerbated existing humanitarian challenges in the region.
Cyclone Jude has inflicted devastating damage across East Africa, resulting in 17 fatalities, with 16 individuals reported dead in Mozambique and one in Madagascar. As of March 18, over 130 people sustained injuries, and four individuals remain missing. An estimated 10,500 people were displaced in Madagascar, in addition to nearly 5,000 in Malawi, leading to an overall impact on approximately 400,000 individuals across the three affected countries.
The cyclone first struck northern Madagascar on March 8, displacing many populace who sought temporary shelter. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented the storm’s increasing strength as it traversed the Mozambique Channel, making landfall on March 10 in Mozambique’s coastal district of Mossuril. It registered maximum sustained winds of 140 kph (87 mph) and gusts reaching 195 kph (121 mph), accompanied by heavy rainfall that surpassed 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) in a span of 24 hours, leading to severe flooding.
In Mozambique, flight operations faced cancellations and delays, with 900 houses confirmed destroyed. The World Food Programme noted that approximately 49,593 hectares (122,547 acres) of cropland in Monapo were flooded, while a cholera outbreak emerged in Larde, as per OCHA’s reports. A UNICEF representative highlighted the exacerbating conditions of full river basins and dams, which intensified the flooding crisis, with over 400,000 people experiencing power interruptions in Nampula.
Prior to Cyclone Jude’s approach, the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund had allocated $6 million for early warning measures, shelter provisions, and hygiene assistance, according to OCHA. The cyclone subsequently impacted Malawi between March 10 and 12, bringing substantial rainfall before returning to Mozambique’s territories.
The cumulative destruction is staggering, with OCHA reporting that 70,000 homes alongside 247 schools, 72 health facilities, and 18 bridges were either completely destroyed or partially damaged by March 18. Cyclone Jude marks the third severe cyclone to affect Mozambique since December, following Chido and Dikeledi. It again reached Madagascar’s southern region on March 15, devastating local infrastructure.
OCHA reported that schools suffered significant damages, with 89 classrooms entirely destroyed and 182 damaged, affecting 48,000 students who are currently unable to attend classes. Remarkably, this incident represents the first documented case of a robust weather system traversing the entirety of Madagascar’s southern region, precipitating severe flooding and significant property destruction in inaccessible districts, hampering humanitarian efforts and aid delivery.
In summary, Cyclone Jude has left a tragic toll on East Africa, claiming 17 lives and displacing thousands. The destruction of infrastructure, particularly in schools and health facilities, underscores the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. The unprecedented impact felt across Madagascar and Mozambique further complicates relief efforts, necessitating immediate and comprehensive assistance to rebuild and support those affected.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
