FRELIMO has called on the Mozambique government to bolster assistance for victims of Tropical Cyclone Jude, which caused six deaths and extensive damage across several provinces. The cyclone has also severely impacted education, affecting thousands of students and teachers. Mozambique’s ongoing vulnerability to climate change necessitates urgent relief measures.
The Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) has urged the government to enhance its assistance to citizens impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jude, which struck the nation on Monday and has resulted in six fatalities. Ludmila Maguni, a spokesperson from FRELIMO’s Political Commission, emphasized the need for increased support and implementation of safety measures during a recent meeting.
As reported by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), Cyclone Jude claimed the lives of six individuals, injured 20, and affected 9,525 people across the provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambézia. The cyclone’s impact also extended to education, with 17,401 students and 264 teachers affected, alongside damage to 59 schools and 181 classrooms.
Cyclone Jude made landfall with winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kilometers per hour. Meteorologist Manuel Francisco indicated that the cyclone transitioned into a severe tropical storm shortly after landfall and is projected to fluctuate between moderate and severe storms in the following days.
This cyclone is part of Mozambique’s rainy season, which lasts from October to April, a period that has seen additional cyclones like Chido and Dikeledi impacting northern Mozambique. Between December and January, these cyclones affected approximately 736,000 individuals and resulted in significant destruction of infrastructure.
Mozambique is among the nations severely impacted by global climate change, facing a continuous cycle of floods and tropical cyclones alongside extended droughts. Recent statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicate that extreme climatic events have led to over 1,016 deaths and affected around 4.9 million people between 2019 and 2023.
In summary, FRELIMO’s call for increased governmental assistance highlights the urgent need to support victims of Cyclone Jude in Mozambique. The cyclone has caused fatalities, injuries, and widespread disruption to education and infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges faced by a country already highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. The urgent enhancement of relief efforts is critical as Mozambique continues to confront the realities of climate change and its detrimental effects.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
