Tropical Cyclone Jude Causes Fatalities and Displacement in Southern Africa

Tropical Cyclone Jude has claimed at least nine lives as per official reports, six in Mozambique and three in Malawi. The cyclone has caused severe flooding, displacing thousands and rendering many homeless. Relief efforts are hampered by damage to infrastructure, complicating the response to this humanitarian crisis.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals across Mozambique and Malawi. Officials have stated that in Mozambique, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction reported six fatalities, alongside 20 injuries and the displacement of 9,525 people in the Nampula, Niasa, and Zambezia provinces.

In Malawi, three fatalities have also been confirmed, with heavy flooding leading to approximately 20,000 individuals becoming homeless in the southern region of the country. Chiphiliro Khamula, a spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, indicated that displaced persons are currently being accommodated in evacuation centers.

The cyclone initially made landfall in northern Mozambique early on Sunday and then moved on to southern Malawi, causing severe flooding from Monday to Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported that relief efforts are facing significant challenges due to the destruction of roads and bridges caused by the flooding.

This recent cyclone follows last year’s Cyclone Chido, which inflicted even greater devastation, claiming 73 lives in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in a significant loss of life and widespread displacement across Mozambique and Malawi, further complicating recovery efforts in the wake of a previous cyclone. As rescue and relief operations commence, the focus remains on providing shelter and assistance to affected populations while addressing the infrastructural damage and access challenges posed by the disaster.

Original Source: news.az