Cyclone Jude has exacerbated health risks for children in Mozambique by increasing waterborne diseases. UNICEF is providing emergency aid amid challenges from previous disasters and funding shortages. The cyclone’s path will affect northern Mozambique and southern Malawi until mid-March.
Cyclone Jude’s arrival in Mozambique has raised serious concerns regarding the health of children, with floods increasing the risk of serious waterborne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, as reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The cyclone has severely affected provinces that have the highest concentration of children, heightening the impact of this disaster.
In response to the cyclone’s devastation, UNICEF is urgently providing essential supplies to affected communities while also working to maintain the integrity of emergency shelters. Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mozambique early Monday morning, bringing with it destructive winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. The cyclone’s path included Nacala, a city located in the Nampula province, which experienced intense winds and heavy rainfall.
The Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework for Cyclones was activated, enabling the timely disbursement of funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This financial support allowed humanitarian organizations to implement preventive relief efforts three days prior to the cyclone’s landfall. However, the humanitarian response is struggling due to overextension, as it is also addressing the aftermath of earlier cyclones, increasing cholera cases, food insecurity, political instability, and ongoing conflicts.
Moreover, global reductions in humanitarian funding have made it challenging to gather the necessary resources in this already strained environment. Cyclone Jude is projected to travel southwest across northern Mozambique and approach the southern border of Malawi until March 12, before turning southeast across central Mozambique thereafter.
In summary, Cyclone Jude poses a significant threat to children in Mozambique, particularly through the enhanced risk of waterborne diseases due to flooding. UNICEF’s swift intervention aims to mitigate these dangers by delivering essential aid. As the country grapples with multiple challenges from recent cyclones and ongoing humanitarian crises, securing adequate resources remains critical to effective relief efforts.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
