Frelimo Urges Increased Assistance for Cyclone Jude Victims in Mozambique

Frelimo urges the Mozambican government to enhance assistance for victims of Cyclone Jude, which resulted in six deaths and tens of thousands affected. The cyclone significantly disrupted education and posed further challenges amid Mozambique’s rainy season. Historical data indicates that extreme weather events have severely impacted the country due to climate change.

The Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) has officially requested the Mozambican government to enhance support for victims of Tropical Cyclone Jude, which struck the nation on Monday, resulting in six fatalities. At a session concluding today, Ludmila Maguni, the spokesperson for Frelimo’s Political Commission, emphasized, “We reiterate our appeal to the government… to increase assistance to the affected populations and to implement security measures.”
According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), Cyclone Jude has left at least six people dead, 20 injured, and over 9,525 impacted across Nampula, Niassa, and Zambézia provinces. The cyclone severely disrupted educational services, affecting 17,401 students, 264 teachers, 59 schools, and 181 classrooms in its wake, as reported.
Meteorologist Manuel Francisco from the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) noted that the cyclone made landfall with winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 195 kilometers per hour. Following its landfall, it weakened to a severe tropical storm and is expected to fluctuate between moderate and severe conditions in the following days. Currently, Mozambique is navigating through its rainy season, which extends from October to April.
Previous cyclones, namely Chido and Dikeledi, impacted Mozambique between December and January, predominantly affecting Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces. These two events harmed approximately 736,000 individuals and significantly damaged both public and private infrastructures. Between 2019 and 2023, extreme weather events in Mozambique resulted in 1,016 deaths and affected nearly 4.9 million people, as outlined by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Mozambique continues to face severe challenges due to global climate change, including recurrent floods and storms alongside extended drought periods.

In summary, Frelimo’s call for increased government assistance highlights the urgent needs of those affected by Tropical Cyclone Jude. The cyclone’s devastation underscores the ongoing challenges Mozambique faces from climate change, which includes extreme weather patterns leading to significant loss of life and infrastructure. Increased support and proactive measures are essential to mitigate future impacts and assist vulnerable populations.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com