Cyclone Jude Increases Waterborne Disease Threat in Mozambique

Cyclone Jude has caused increased risks of waterborne diseases in Mozambique, particularly among children. UNICEF is distributing essential supplies while facing overwhelmed humanitarian resources due to previous cyclones and ongoing crises. The cyclone is expected to move through northern Mozambique toward southern Malawi.

Cyclone Jude has raised significant concerns regarding public health in Mozambique, particularly for children, as flooding increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, according to UNICEF. The hardest-hit provinces contain the country’s highest concentration of children, exacerbating the cyclone’s impact.

In response to this crisis, UNICEF is rapidly distributing essential supplies to affected communities while striving to maintain the integrity of emergency shelters. Cyclone Jude hit Mozambique on Monday, bringing intense winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour and heavy rainfall, particularly near the urban center of Nacala in Nampula province.

A proactive approach was initiated through the activation of the Mozambique Anticipatory Action Framework for Cyclones, enabling swift allocation of funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund to humanitarian organizations. These funds were made available three days ahead of the cyclone’s landfall, allowing for preemptive relief efforts.

Currently, the humanitarian sector is overwhelmed, dealing with the aftermath of two recent cyclones—Cyclone Chido in December 2024 and Cyclone Dikeledi in January 2025—as well as escalating challenges from an ongoing cholera outbreak, food insecurity, and sociopolitical unrest. The decrease in global humanitarian financing complicates resource acquisition for the already stressed system.

Forecasts suggest that Cyclone Jude will move southwest across northern Mozambique and approach the southern border of Malawi until the early hours of March 12, after which it is expected to shift southeast across central Mozambique.

The incursion of Cyclone Jude into Mozambique poses severe health risks, particularly for children, due to the heightened risk of waterborne diseases caused by flooding. UNICEF is implementing robust emergency responses while managing the challenges created by prior cyclones and ongoing humanitarian crises. As the situation evolves, concerns rise over the capacity of humanitarian efforts to address the overlapping disasters effectively.

Original Source: newscentral.africa