Cyclone Jude’s Devastating Impact on Mozambique: Deaths and Damage

Cyclone Jude has caused 16 fatalities and affected over 302,000 people in Mozambique, with extensive destruction to housing and infrastructure. The disaster has severely impacted education and healthcare, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events during the rainy season.

Cyclone Jude’s impact on Mozambique has been devastating, resulting in 16 fatalities and affecting over 302,000 individuals, as reported by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD). The updated figures show two people are still unaccounted for, with 302,653 individuals affected and 65,164 families impacted across various provinces, including Tete and Manica, along with Zambézia, Nampula, Niassa, and Cabo Delgado.

According to INGD data, Cyclone Jude has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with 70,163 houses either partially or totally destroyed. Moreover, 988 homes were flooded, and 134 places of worship were damaged. The cyclone severely impacted education, affecting 247 schools and 674 classrooms, thereby disrupting the education of 91,629 students and displacing 1,182 teachers. The disaster also damaged 18 bridges, harmed 41 aqueducts, and impacted 101,239 agricultural areas.

Health care facilities have not been spared, with reports of destruction to at least 72 health units and two public buildings. Additional infrastructure challenges include 68 damaged vessels, eight affected supply systems, and 1,224 electrical poles overturned. Over 2,859 kilometers of road were affected, with significant damage occurring to 671.6 kilometers of roadway.

As Mozambique is currently enduring its rainy season, which extends from October to April, it faces continual threats from cyclones, including recent events such as Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi. In the past, cyclones have disproportionately affected the northern regions, particularly Cabo Delgado and Nampula, with these events leading to approximately 736,000 individuals impacted between December and January.

Between 2019 and 2023, extreme weather events like cyclones accounted for at least 1,016 fatalities and affected approximately 4.9 million people across the nation, as evidenced by data from the National Institute of Statistics. Mozambique ranks as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, facing frequent flooding, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts during its rainy season.

Cyclone Jude has wreaked havoc in Mozambique, resulting in significant loss of life and immense infrastructural damage. The country faces ongoing challenges due to its vulnerability to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. As the rainy season continues, timely interventions and comprehensive disaster response will be paramount to address the needs of the affected populations and rebuild the damaged infrastructure.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com