Tropical Storm Jude Impact Update: Mozambique March 2025

Tropical Cyclone Jude struck Mozambique on March 10, 2025, impacting over 780,000 people in Nampula and Zambezia. Wind speeds reached 140 km/h, and flooding is a major concern following heavy rains. The humanitarian response is strained due to recent cyclones and pre-existing health crises, particularly cholera. Initial assessments report damage to infrastructure and homes.

On March 10, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in the Mossuril district of Nampula province with maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. At least 780,000 individuals are currently at high risk due to expected high winds and heavy rains affecting Nampula and Zambezia. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) has issued a flooding alert for major rivers in Nampula.

The Mozambique Anticipatory Action (AA) Framework was activated, allowing humanitarian partners to access rapid funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to execute anticipatory measures prior to landfall, which occurred three days after funds were disbursed. Nevertheless, humanitarian resources are already strained due to concurrent responses to previous cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which impacted the region in late 2024 and early 2025, alongside other crises such as cholera and food insecurity.

Cyclone Jude is forecasted to remain over Nampula until March 10 evening, bringing heavy rainfall of over 250 mm in 24 hours, potentially causing further flooding in Nampula, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, and Sofala. Preliminary reports indicate damage to homes, public infrastructure, and utilities, with rapid assessments scheduled in accessible areas by pre-deployed INGD and IOM-DTM teams.

Approximately 780,468 people along the cyclone’s path are at high risk, including 508,167 in Nampula and 272,302 in Zambezia. Current cholera cases in Nampula and Zambezia stand at 36 and 8 respectively, with ongoing health responses compromised by infrastructure damage and prior cyclone events. Movement due to evacuations further heightens the risk of cholera spread.

Tropical Cyclone Jude represents the third cyclone in three months for Mozambique, with earlier cyclones Chido and Dikeledi already affecting 684,000 people. Many in Nampula are still recovering from these events, with humanitarian assistance reaching only 14% of the targeted individuals during the earlier crises.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has severely impacted Mozambique, particularly Nampula and Zambezia provinces, with high winds and heavy rains posing significant risks to nearly 780,000 people. Humanitarian resources are stretched due to ongoing crises, and cholera cases are rising amidst the flooding threats. Immediate activation of response frameworks offers some hope, but recovery from recent cyclones remains a critical challenge for affected regions.

Original Source: reliefweb.int