Tropical Storm Jude: Flash Update on Impact and Humanitarian Response in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall on March 10, 2025, in Nampula, with winds up to 195 km/h, threatening 780,000 people in Nampula and Zambezia provinces. Prompt humanitarian actions were initiated, but prior disasters have strained capacities. Flooding and cholera cases are rising, compounding the crisis as Mozambique faces its third cyclone in three months.

On March 10, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in the Mossuril district of Nampula province. The cyclone exhibited maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 195 km/h. This weather event poses a severe risk to approximately 780,000 individuals in the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia, due to the anticipated combination of high winds and intense rainfall, as reported by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD). Flooding alerts have been issued by the Hydrological Department in Nampula for main rivers in the region.

A proactive response has been initiated under the Mozambique Anticipatory Action Framework for Cyclones, providing humanitarian partners with quick access to funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in preparation for the landfall, three days prior to the cyclone’s arrival. However, the current humanitarian response capabilities are strained, given the simultaneous management of the effects from two earlier cyclones: Chido in December 2024 and Dikeledi in January 2025. The ongoing crises of cholera, food insecurity, conflict, and political unrest further complicate resource mobilization, while the Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal is presently only funded at 0.2 percent.

The Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology has indicated that Cyclone Jude will continue to affect the Nampula region until the evening of the same day, with heavy rains expected to exceed 250 mm within 24 hours, potentially causing flooding in several provinces, including Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala. Initial reports indicate damage to infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and telecommunication lines, with teams from INGD and IOM-DTM prepared for urgent assessments in accessible regions. At present, around 780,468 individuals are identified as being at high or very high risk, including 508,167 in Nampula and 272,302 in Zambezia.

In addition to the cyclone’s impact, cases of cholera have re-emerged in Nampula and Zambezia, with reported instances numbering 36 and 8, respectively, within the last 24 hours. The cholera outbreak continues to be problematic, exacerbated by damage to health and sanitation infrastructure from preceding cyclones and a heightened atmosphere of misinformation and violence against health care professionals. The adverse conditions brought on by flooding and population movements during emergency evacuations heighten the risk of disease spread.

Cyclone Jude marks the third cyclone to strike Mozambique in a span of three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, both of which resulted in extensive damage in the northern provinces and impacted 684,000 individuals. Recovery efforts from these preceding cyclones are still ongoing, with humanitarian assistance reaching only 14 percent of the targeted population across four districts.

In summary, Tropical Cyclone Jude has inflicted severe conditions across Nampula and Zambezia provinces, endangering approximately 780,000 individuals. While anticipatory actions have been activated, the humanitarian response is currently overstretched due to previous disasters and ongoing public health crises. The cyclone’s impact will likely exacerbate existing health issues such as cholera, complicating recovery efforts in the region. The disaster highlights the urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian support and enhanced preparedness for future cyclonic events.

Original Source: www.unocha.org