Mozambique has faced devastating impacts from Tropical Cyclone Chido, which made landfall on December 15, 2024, affecting over 453,000 individuals and causing major destruction. Subsequently, Cyclone Dikeledi struck on January 13, 2025, impacting more than 283,000 individuals. Extensive damage has occurred to homes, schools, and health facilities, necessitating urgent humanitarian responses in the affected areas.
Tropical Cyclone Chido has caused catastrophic ramifications in Mozambique since its landfall on December 15, 2024. The cyclone brought extreme rainfall exceeding 250 mm within a 24-hour period, accompanied by winds reaching 120 km/h. Following its advance, Cyclone Chido affected Malawi and dissipated in Zimbabwe by December 17, leaving significant damage and ongoing needs in Mozambique.
As per the National Institute for Natural Disasters (INGD) reports on December 24, 2024, an estimated 453,971 individuals have been impacted, with 120 fatalities and 868 injuries recorded. The destruction includes over 70,000 homes, 250 schools, 52 health centers, and 338 electricity poles, with numbers likely to increase as further assessments are conducted. The situation has surpassed the 350,000 threshold required to initiate a Flash Appeal.
The Cabo Delgado Province, particularly the districts of Mecufi, Metuge, Chiure, and the provincial capital Pemba, experienced significant effects, impacting about 272,000 people. The comprehensive assessment mission led by INGD and supported by OCHA, conducted on December 18, illustrated the devastation in these areas, revealing that Mecufi suffered near-total destruction of homes.
Following Cyclone Chido, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi struck Nampula province on January 13, 2025, producing severe weather. Mossuril recorded precipitation of 247 mm on January 14, alongside wind speeds reaching 150 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h. The initial assessments revealed that 283,334 individuals were affected by Dikeledi, with a significant number, including 142,598 children, among those impacted.
An estimated 80,865 houses have been damaged by Cyclone Dikeledi, comprising 44,012 partially damaged and 36,853 fully destroyed structures. Additionally, 48 health facilities, 221 schools, and 4,092 hectares of agricultural land have been affected. The districts facing the most severe impacts include Mossuril, Ilha de Mozambique, and Monapo.
As the situation evolves, the extent of destruction and community needs necessitate urgent humanitarian responses to mitigate further suffering in the affected regions. The ongoing assessment and coordination efforts are crucial in addressing the complexities arising from these disasters.
Mozambique continues to experience the devastating impacts of consecutive tropical cyclones, Chido and Dikeledi, with thousands of lives severely affected. Current assessments indicate extensive damage to infrastructure, including homes, schools, and health facilities. The humanitarian response is critical to address the immediate needs and provide relief to the impacted populations while highlighting the necessity for continued coordination among agencies involved in disaster recovery.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
