Cyclone Jude has resulted in 17 fatalities in East Africa, with significant injuries and displacement reported. The cyclone struck Madagascar and Mozambique, causing extensive structural damage, flooding, and power outages, affecting over 400,000 individuals. Destruction includes thousands of homes, schools, and agricultural land, posing long-term challenges for recovery efforts.
Cyclone Jude has caused severe devastation in East Africa, claiming 17 lives, with 16 fatalities reported in Mozambique and one in Madagascar, according to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The cyclone has also left over 130 individuals injured and four reported missing as of March 18. More than 10,500 people are displaced in Madagascar and nearly 5,000 in Malawi, impacting at least 400,000 individuals across the affected nations.
The cyclone touched down first in northern Madagascar on March 8, leading to mass displacements as affected residents sought temporary shelter. Strengthening over the Mozambique Channel, it subsequently made landfall in Mozambique’s Mossuril district on March 10, producing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph (87 mph) and gusts reaching 195 kph (121 mph). The intense rainfall, with over 250 mm (9.8 inches) in 24 hours, resulted in significant flooding in coastal districts.
In Mozambique, flights were canceled and postponed, and approximately 900 houses were rendered uninhabitable. The World Food Programme noted that 49,593 hectares (122,547 acres) of farmland were inundated in Nampula, where cholera outbreaks were also reported. According to a UNICEF representative, pre-existing saturated riverbanks exacerbated the flooding impact, contributing to power outages affecting over 400,000 people in the region.
Prior to the landfall in northern Mozambique, the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $6 million to facilitate emergency preparations, including early warning systems and essential supplies. Cyclone Jude impacted Malawi between March 10 and 12 before returning to Mozambique.
As of March 18, an alarming tally revealed the destruction of 70,000 houses, 247 schools, 72 medical facilities, 48 water systems, and 18 bridges, with 73 km (45 miles) of electricity lines also compromised. Cyclone Jude marked its third occurrence in Mozambique within a span of three months following Cyclone Chido in December and Cyclone Dikeledi in January, making another sweep across northern Madagascar on March 15, this time affecting its southern regions.
Schools were particularly hard hit, with 89 classrooms fully destroyed and 182 partially damaged, impacting around 48,000 students’ education. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that this event represents the first instance of a robust weather system traversing the entire southern region of Madagascar. Many areas remain unreachable, complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Cyclone Jude has had a catastrophic impact across East Africa, leading to considerable loss of life, severe displacement, and infrastructure damage. With 17 confirmed deaths and significant agricultural and structural losses, humanitarian efforts are crucial for supporting the affected populations. The ongoing challenges, such as flooding and epidemics, demonstrate the pressing need for assistance and disaster preparedness in the region.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
