Tropical Cyclone Jude has struck southern Africa, causing extensive damage in Malawi and Mozambique. No deaths have been reported, but thousands are homeless and 15 individuals were injured. Relief efforts are hindered by washed-out roads, although some aid has begun to be distributed. The cyclone has affected over 11,000 people and displaced more than 3,000 in Malawi, while the storm’s immediate threat is subsiding.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has hit southern Africa this week, particularly impacting Malawi and Mozambique without causing any fatalities. However, the cyclone has led to significant destruction, leaving thousands homeless and causing power outages in various areas. Aid agencies are struggling to provide relief due to the destruction of roads and infrastructure, limiting access to the affected regions.
The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday and subsequently affected southern Malawi, resulting in heavy rainfall in 13 districts from Monday to Wednesday. A preliminary report from Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs noted that over 11,000 individuals were impacted, with properties and crops destroyed or flooded, leading to the displacement of more than 3,000 people now in evacuation shelters.
While there were no reported fatalities, some buildings collapsed, injuring 15 individuals, including two young boys aged 5 and 8, who are currently receiving medical care. Search efforts are ongoing for three individuals missing after a boat capsized in flooded conditions in Nsanje and Phalombe.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicated that relief efforts in Mozambique are severely impacted by inaccessible roads, particularly in Nampula province where critical infrastructure has been damaged. The situation is complicated further by impassable routes, such as the N1 national highway, which hinders the transportation of assistance from Cabo Delgado.
In Malawi, accessible areas are beginning to receive aid, with the World Food Program distributing necessary supplies, including food and emergency kits, to affected individuals in Mulanje district. Simon Denhere, the acting country director for WFP in Malawi, noted that they had prepositioned resources for rapid response with support from the UK government.
According to Lucy Mtilatila from Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Cyclone Jude has moved into Mozambique and is expected to dissipate soon. While the cyclone’s immediate threat is diminishing, concerns persist regarding potential flooding from ongoing rains. This storm marks the third cyclone to impact Mozambique within a span of three months, following Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi.
Cyclone Jude has significantly affected Malawi and Mozambique, causing widespread damage but fortunately no fatalities. Thousands are homeless, and many require urgent aid as relief efforts are hampered by damaged infrastructure. While the immediate threat of the cyclone is receding, the risk of flooding remains. This event underscores the challenges of cyclone responses in southern Africa and the growing frequency of such natural disasters in the region.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
