Humanitarian Response to Tropical Cyclone Jude in Mozambique: A Situation Report
Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on March 10, 2025, causing significant infrastructure damage, loss of life, and widespread displacement, particularly in Nampula and Zambézia provinces. Humanitarian response efforts are hampered by strains from previous cyclones. Coordination among agencies is crucial to addressing urgent needs for shelter, food, and education for displaced populations while improving living conditions in temporary facilities.
On March 6, 2025, the National Institute for Disaster and Risk Reduction Management reported the formation of a low-pressure system in the Indian Ocean, which escalated into Tropical Cyclone Jude. This cyclone made landfall on March 10 in Nampula’s Mossuril district with winds reaching 195 km/h and rainfall exceeding 250 mm within 24 hours. The cyclone caused severe infrastructure damage, loss of life, injuries, and widespread displacement, increasing humanitarian needs across both urban and rural areas.
The northern region’s humanitarian response capabilities are currently under strain due to the repercussions of two prior cyclones: Cyclone Chido in December 2024 and Cyclone Dikeledi in January 2025. Following anticipatory actions activated by the Technical Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management on March 8, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) response began in Angoche and Mogincual on March 9. Preparedness efforts included pre-positioning essential tools, sharing readiness information with communities, collaborating with disaster risk reduction committees, and offering support to the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD).
Local authorities have established accommodation centers in various districts of Nampula and Zambézia provinces, deploying site management teams to assess initial needs and facilitate coordination. The CCCM and Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams identified 59 temporary sites in nine districts of Nampula and one in Namacurra, Zambézia, hosting the affected population. However, most of these sites lack formal recognition as official accommodation centers, complicating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance due to the need for refined classification and mapping.
Many displaced families are currently utilizing temporary accommodation facilities such as barracks, classrooms, churches, and unfinished buildings while they attempt to rebuild or adapt makeshift shelters. The urgent requirements for the displaced include food, water, shelter, healthcare, non-food items, sanitation, hygiene, and education resources. Improving living conditions in these temporary facilities is crucial, along with addressing issues like fire safety, safeguarding against exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and cholera prevention by establishing essential services such as handwashing stations and communal restrooms.
The cyclone has further complicated educational access as schools have been repurposed as shelters, delaying children’s return to learning. Enhanced partnerships and a proactive approach are necessary to include educational needs in response strategies and support recovery efforts for displaced families. The CCCM Cluster is tasked with updating the list of temporary accommodation facilities collaboratively with DTM and local authorities, recognizing that ongoing population movements may result in planned and unplanned site deactivations due to adverse conditions.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has severely impacted Mozambique, prompting an urgent humanitarian response amid existing strains from previous cyclones. Coordination among various humanitarian actors, local authorities, and affected communities is critical to address the escalating needs for shelter and basic services. Furthermore, strategies aimed at restoring educational access for displaced children and improving living conditions in temporary accommodations are vital in mitigating the cyclone’s long-term effects.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
