Cyclone Chido Devastates Mozambique: Severe Impact and Urgent Response Required
Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mozambique on December 15, 2024, causing catastrophic damage across northern provinces. As of December 17, 174,000 individuals are affected, resulting in 34 fatalities and extensive property loss. Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to address food insecurity and the heightened risk of waterborne diseases.
On December 15, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck the Mecufi district in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, unleashing catastrophic winds of up to 120 km/h and precipitation surpassing 250 mm within a single day. The cyclone’s ferocious impacts have devastated northern Mozambique, particularly affecting Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces, while Tete and northern Zambézia faced secondary repercussions.
As reported by the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), the cyclone has impacted approximately 174,000 individuals as of December 17, leading to 34 confirmed fatalities and 319 injuries. The storm has destroyed or partially damaged over 35,000 residences, along with critical infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, and water systems. This calamity has intensified existing vulnerabilities in regions like Cabo Delgado, which is currently wrestling with conflict-induced displacement and an ongoing cholera epidemic.
In the Mecufi and Chiure districts, destruction is almost complete, with all residences impacted, and health services incapacitated. Agricultural sectors are in disarray, with extensive losses to crops such as maize, beans, sesame, and cassava, leaving communities without food security or viable recovery options. Furthermore, in Nampula province’s Memba and Erati districts, over 3,600 families have experienced significant losses to their fishing livelihoods and assets.
The devastation of water and sanitation infrastructure significantly heightens the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera. Compounding these challenges are compromised communication and power networks, which further hinder urgent humanitarian response efforts. Given that over 80% of the Mozambican population relies on agriculture for their sustenance and income, immediate, coordinated actions are vital to assist impacted households in recovering their livelihoods and restoring access to nutritious food.
Mozambique regularly faces severe tropical storms and cyclones, which cause considerable human and infrastructural damage. National authorities have established various disaster response mechanisms, yet the compounding effects of socioeconomic challenges, such as displacement due to conflict and ongoing health crises, hinder recovery efforts. The continual threat from such natural disasters emphasizes the need for enhanced infrastructure and response strategies to safeguard the most vulnerable populations.
In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Chido has wrought unprecedented destruction across northern Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, impacting over 174,000 people. With countless homes destroyed, agricultural outputs severely compromised, and critical infrastructure damaged, the risk of cholera and other diseases is amplified. Coordinated humanitarian efforts are urgently required to assist the affected populations in rebuilding their lives and securing vital resources.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
