Tropical Cyclone Jude hit Madagascar on 8 March 2025, causing casualties and displacing thousands. It intensified into a cyclone making landfall in Mozambique on 10 March, impacting the region with heavy rains and winds. Malawi has issued a storm warning, and response measures are underway across the affected countries, with funding released to assist those in need.
Southern Africa recently experienced the effects of Moderate Tropical Storm Jude, which impacted Madagascar on 8 March 2025. The storm resulted in one fatality, one injury, and affected approximately 4,100 individuals, with 3,617 displaced across nine temporary sites. The damages included more than 1,300 flooded houses, 37 of which were destroyed, alongside substantial damage to educational infrastructure, with 37 classrooms affected.
On 10 March, Jude intensified into a Tropical Cyclone, making landfall in Mossuril District, Nampula Province, Mozambique. The region is currently facing severe weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and perilous seas. In anticipation of the storm’s effects, the Government of Malawi issued a Tropical Storm Warning, preparing for potential impacts.
Preparedness and response mechanisms are actively being implemented across Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated US$6 million in pre-arranged funding for Mozambique following the activation of the Anticipatory Action and Early Response framework due to cyclone-related thresholds being met.
The storm initially developed on 6 March south-west of Diego Garcia Island, subsequently transitioning to Tropical Storm Jude and entering the Mozambique Channel. The cyclone is projected to influence Nampula and Zambezia provinces, posing risks to approximately 780,000 individuals within its path, with subsequent impacts expected in Malawi as well.
Looking ahead, Tropical Cyclone Jude is forecasted to weaken as it nears the Mozambique-Malawi border, with a possible resurgence in strength as it heads towards Madagascar, where humanitarian partners are on high alert. Evacuation and logistical plans are being activated in preparation for potential further impacts from the storm.
Humanitarian organizations are collaborating with governments in the affected countries to coordinate responses. In Malawi, early action programs are underway, while awareness campaigns and distribution of emergency supplies are being facilitated. Concurrently, Madagascar continues to address the response from previous cyclonic events, as their resources are nearly depleted due to recent severe weather incidents.
Mozambique has mobilized resources and implemented immediate funding measures to enhance preparedness and response capacities, building on the collective framework supported by the CERF in collaboration with governmental efforts to protect vulnerable communities from cyclone impacts. The humanitarian situation is precarious, highlighting the need for additional support in recovering from multiple recent cyclones.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Jude has led to significant humanitarian challenges across Southern Africa, particularly affecting Madagascar and Mozambique. As the storm progresses, it is essential to maintain preparedness and response efforts, especially in Malawi where impacts are expected. Coordination among humanitarian partners and governments remains crucial to mitigate the cyclone’s effects and provide timely assistance to affected communities. The immediate allocation of resources, including the CERF funding, underscores the importance of a collective response to these recurrent climatic events. Therefore, ongoing vigilance is required as communities continue to recover from previous cyclones while facing new threats from Jude.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
