Tropical Cyclone Chido has caused significant devastation in northern Mozambique, affecting approximately 90,000 children and damaging over 35,000 homes. The storm destroyed educational institutions and health facilities, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities linked to conflict and climate change. Humanitarian responses are underway, but challenges persist due to limited resources.
Tropical Cyclone Chido has struck northern Mozambique, leading to severe repercussions for local communities, particularly affecting children. The storm devastated Cabo Delgado province with intense winds and torrential rains, resulting in over 35,000 homes being damaged or destroyed and affecting approximately 90,000 children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Moreover, the storm impacted approximately 174,000 individuals overall, a figure that may rise as further assessments are conducted.
The cyclone caused irreparable damage to educational and health infrastructure, destroying at least 186,000 classrooms and damaging 20 health facilities. The storm’s landfall near Pemba city in Cabo Delgado saw roofs blown away and significant destruction of essential services such as electricity and communication. Ms. Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique, emphasized the critical dangers facing children, noting that pre-existing crises from climate change had already left them vulnerable to conflicts, droughts, and disease outbreaks.
In light of the calamity, UNICEF, in collaboration with other UN agencies and local organizations, is mobilizing to deliver essential humanitarian assistance amid challenging circumstances. The worsening condition in Cabo Delgado, which has experienced seven years of violent conflict displacing over 1.3 million people, predominantly women and children, has compounded the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido. For many families, the cyclone has swept away hard-fought recoveries and resources.
The storm further affected families in nearby Nampula and Niassa provinces, where over 25,000 households are without electricity, along with damaged water facilities. The ongoing cholera outbreak in the region now faces an increased risk of escalation due to the latest devastation. Public health experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are already on-site aiding local health assessments to address urgent needs.
Initial aid efforts by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have commenced, providing relief materials to over 2,600 individuals in Pemba within 48 hours of the storm. Preliminary reports suggest that nearly 190,000 people in rural areas require immediate humanitarian aid, with extensive damage to 33 schools and nearly 10,000 homes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has indicated that UN teams in the region are prepared to deliver emergency assistance, while limited supplies continue to obstruct response efforts. To facilitate initial humanitarian responses, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $4 million to Mozambique. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also signaled plans to increase support for the approximately 3.3 million people expected to experience severe food insecurity in the upcoming year as a result of this disaster.
Cyclone Chido’s reach extended beyond Mozambique, causing substantial destruction in Mayotte and southern Malawi, where winds and rains led to severe infrastructure damage. The situation in these regions is under constant monitoring, with local partners coordinating relief efforts.
Cyclone Chido is a recent tropical storm that made landfall in northern Mozambique, primarily affecting the Cabo Delgado province. The storm’s impact has led to devastating consequences for local communities, especially children, who already faced multiple vulnerabilities due to existing socio-economic and environmental challenges. UNICEF and United Nations agencies are actively responding to the crisis amid ongoing conflicts and prevailing health threats in the region.
In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Chido has resulted in severe destruction across northern Mozambique, significantly impacting children and displacing thousands of families. The response from UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations is crucial in addressing the immediate needs of those affected. With ongoing health crises and an already vulnerable population, it is imperative for the international community to ensure timely support and resources to aid recovery efforts in the region.
Original Source: news.un.org
