Impact of Tropical Cyclone Jude in Mozambique: March 2025 Update

Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on 10 March 2025, affecting 375,214 people and damaging 81,149 houses. This has worsened the pre-existing vulnerabilities related to food insecurity and access to services. Health risks, including emerging cholera cases, are escalating in Nampula province. Temporary accommodations have been established for displaced populations, and urgent assistance is being coordinated by authorities and humanitarian organizations.

On 10 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique’s Nampula province, resulting in heavy rainfall and strong winds. By 13 March, the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) reported that 375,214 individuals have been affected, with 81,149 houses damaged or destroyed. The cyclone has led to severe flooding and widespread infrastructure damage in Nampula and Zambezia provinces, intensifying the vulnerabilities of communities already facing food insecurity and limited access to essential services.

The current cyclone season has been particularly devastating, especially for the Nampula and Zambezia regions, which had previously suffered from Tropical Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, affecting around 684,000 people overall. As Cyclone Jude moved inland, it weakened to a severe storm across Manica, Niassa, Sofala, and Tete provinces, compounding the humanitarian crisis experienced due to consecutive natural disasters.

Health risks are also escalating, with the cholera situation becoming dire in Nampula province. As of 14 March 2025, 56 cholera cases have been reported, and although no new cases emerged in the prior 24 hours, there are continuing worries regarding potential outbreaks stemming from contaminated water sources within overcrowded temporary accommodation.

Preliminary findings from an Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA), conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Displacement Tracking Matrix and the CCCM Cluster, have identified over 61 temporary accommodation facilities for displaced populations. These sites provide essential shelter to evacuated families as authorities and humanitarian organizations strive to meet urgent needs, including food assistance, safe water, sanitation, healthcare, and protection services.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has compounded the humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, impacting over 375,000 people, with severe flooding and infrastructural damage particularly in Nampula and Zambezia provinces. Heightened health risks and cholera outbreaks are concerns following the cyclone. Authorities, alongside humanitarian organizations, are working to address urgent needs as they assess the situation and provide relief to affected populations.

Original Source: reliefweb.int