Frelimo Urges Increased Assistance for Victims of Tropical Cyclone Jude

Frelimo has urged the Mozambican government to increase aid for victims of Tropical Cyclone Jude, which has caused six deaths and affected thousands. The cyclone severely impacted education, affecting students and schools in multiple provinces. Mozambique continues to face challenges from extreme weather, highlighting its vulnerability to climate change.

The Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) has urged the Mozambican government to enhance its support for citizens impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jude, which struck on Monday, resulting in six fatalities. Frelimo spokesperson Ludmila Maguni emphasized the need for increased assistance from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) and urged the implementation of necessary security measures.

As reported by the INGD, Cyclone Jude has left at least six individuals deceased, caused injuries to 20 others, and affected 9,525 people across the provinces of Nampula and Niassa in the north, as well as Zambézia in central Mozambique. The cyclone’s impact extends to education, with 17,401 students, 264 teachers, 59 schools, and 181 classrooms being affected.

The cyclone made landfall in Mozambique early Monday morning, bringing winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour, with gusts hitting 195 kilometers per hour. Meteorologist Manuel Francisco of the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) indicated that the cyclone soon devolved into a severe tropical storm and is expected to fluctuate between moderate and severe in the coming days.

Mozambique is currently experiencing its rainy season, which lasts from October to April and has already seen disturbances from cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, affecting Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces between December and January. These events impacted approximately 736,000 people and caused significant destruction to both public and private infrastructure. Furthermore, extreme weather events from 2019 to 2023 have led to at least 1,016 fatalities and have affected close to 4.9 million individuals in Mozambique, underscoring the nation’s vulnerability to climate change.

In summary, Frelimo’s call for increased government support highlights the pressing need for assistance to those affected by Cyclone Jude, which has already resulted in several casualties and significant disruptions. The ongoing rainy season and historical context of cyclones in Mozambique emphasize the critical nature of proactive disaster management. Mozambique’s vulnerability to climate change necessitates urgent action to mitigate the impacts of such severe weather events in the future.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com