Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique’s Nampula province on March 10, 2025, with winds up to 195 km/h affecting approximately 780,000 people. Early response efforts were mobilized, but humanitarian resources remain strained from previous cyclones and ongoing crises. Flooding alerts were issued, and cholera cases continue in affected areas, highlighting an ongoing need for assistance.
On March 10, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in the Mossuril district of Nampula province, boasting maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) reports that approximately 780,000 individuals are currently at risk or very high risk due to anticipated high winds and torrential rains in Nampula and Zambezia provinces. Additionally, the Hydrological Department in Nampula has issued alerts for potential flooding in major rivers.
In anticipation of the cyclone, early response measures were activated under the Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework for Cyclones. The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided immediate financial support to humanitarian organizations for proactive action three days prior to landfall. However, ongoing humanitarian responses to previous cyclones, cholera outbreaks, food insecurity, and political instability put considerable strain on available resources, with the Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal reportedly only 0.2 percent funded.
The cyclone is expected to persist in Nampula until the evening of March 10, bringing heavy rains of over 250 mm within a 24-hour period and inducing severe thunderstorms that could lead to floods in Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala provinces. Localized flooding has already been observed in areas such as Nacala and Ilha de Moçambique. Initial assessments reveal damage to housing and infrastructure, including roads and communication lines, with teams already deployed for rapid needs assessments in affected areas.
An alarming 780,468 individuals are at high and very high risk, particularly in Nampula, where 508,167 are affected, and Zambezia, where 272,302 individuals are at risk. Additionally, cholera cases have been reported in both provinces, with 36 cases in Nampula and 8 in Zambezia, complicating response efforts that are hindered by previous cyclone damage and community violence against health personnel. The ongoing flooding threatens to exacerbate the disease’s spread.
Cyclone Jude is the third severe weather event impacting Mozambique in a three-month period, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which caused significant destruction and affected 684,000 individuals. Many residents in Nampula have yet to recover from these past cyclones, with humanitarian aid reaching only 14 percent of the targeted population in four districts, highlighting an urgent need for increased support.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has severely impacted Mozambique, with its landfall leading to significant risks for hundreds of thousands of individuals. The early response initiatives, although accelerated by the Central Emergency Response Fund, face substantial resource challenges due to previous disasters and ongoing humanitarian crises. As flooding and cholera continue to spread, the situation remains critical, necessitating urgent international attention and funding to mitigate further human suffering.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
