Tropical Cyclone Jude has severely impacted Malawi and Mozambique, causing widespread damage but no fatalities. Over 11,000 people were affected, with many displaced. Relief efforts are ongoing despite challenges due to washed-away infrastructure. The cyclone has since moved towards Mozambique, where it is expected to dissipate, although flood concerns continue.
This week, Tropical Cyclone Jude impacted southern Africa, notably affecting Malawi and Mozambique. Despite the widespread damage, no fatalities have been reported. Thousands have become homeless, and significant areas have lost power, complicating relief efforts due to washed-away roads.
The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique before moving over Malawi, resulting in heavy rainfall that affected 13 districts from Monday through Wednesday. According to an assessment from Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs, over 11,000 individuals have suffered due to the cyclone, with crop destruction and property damage reported.
The disaster led to the displacement of more than 3,000 people, currently sheltered in six evacuation camps. While there were no recorded fatalities, 15 individuals sustained injuries from collapsing buildings, including two young boys. Efforts to locate three missing persons following a boat capsize in a flooded river are ongoing.
In Mozambique, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that relief operations were hindered by lack of access in Nampula province, where infrastructure such as roads and bridges were damaged. Moving supplies from Cabo Delgado to Nampula was hampered by the storm’s impact on the N1 national highway.
International aid agencies and the Malawian government commenced relief operations in accessible regions, with the World Food Program distributing supplies to affected individuals in Mulanje district. Simon Denhere, WFP’s acting director in Malawi, mentioned that with UK government support, food supplies and emergency kits had been prepositioned to facilitate rapid response.
Cyclone Jude has since moved from Malawi to Mozambique, where it is anticipated to dissipate. While the immediate threat has diminished, floods remain a concern, albeit expected to have minimal impact. Jude marks the third cyclone to strike Mozambique in three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has caused widespread destruction in Malawi and Mozambique, displacing thousands and causing injury without any reported deaths. Ongoing relief efforts are challenged by infrastructure damage and accessibility issues. As the cyclone dissipates, concerns about flooding remain, yet the humanitarian response continues with support from international agencies. The recent cyclone highlights the repeated vulnerability of the region to severe weather events.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
