Frelimo Urges Increased Government Aid for Cyclone Jude Victims in Mozambique
The Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) has requested the government to boost assistance for victims of Tropical Cyclone Jude, which has killed six people and affected over 9,525 others. The cyclone’s impact on education includes disruptions to thousands of students and teachers, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures. Mozambique’s vulnerability to climate change continues to manifest through recurring destructive storms and floods during the rainy season.
The Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) has urged the government to enhance support for victims impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jude, which struck on Monday, resulting in six fatalities. Ludmila Maguni, spokesperson for Frelimo’s Political Commission, called on the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) to expedite assistance and implement safety measures for affected populations.
As of the latest reports, Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in six deaths, injuries to 20 individuals, and affected over 9,525 residents in Nampula, Niassa, and Zambézia provinces. The INGD has confirmed these statistics, which also note major disruptions to education, with 17,401 students and 264 teachers affected across 59 schools and 181 classrooms.
Cyclone Jude arrived with winds of 140 km/h and gusts up to 195 km/h, transforming into a severe tropical storm shortly after landfall. Meteorologist Manuel Francisco from the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) forecasted the cyclone’s potential to vary in intensity over the following days.
Mozambique’s rainy season runs from October to April, often bringing cyclones. Jude follows previous cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which struck between December and January, affecting approximately 736,000 people and causing extensive infrastructure damage. Recent extreme weather events have resulted in at least 1,016 deaths and impacted around 4.9 million individuals from 2019 to 2023, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Mozambique faces significant challenges due to climate change, regularly experiencing flooding and cyclones during the rainy season, alongside extended drought periods.
Frelimo’s appeal for increased governmental assistance highlights the urgent need for support for those impacted by Cyclone Jude, which has already claimed lives and affected thousands. The ongoing rainy season poses ongoing risks with recent historical data revealing a pattern of cyclones and extreme weather events that threaten the region’s stability, economy, and public safety.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
