Tropical Cyclone Jude has claimed at least nine lives across Mozambique and Malawi, displacing thousands and causing extensive flooding. Relief efforts are hampered by damaged infrastructure.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, as confirmed by officials on Thursday. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Mozambique reported that six fatalities occurred, alongside 20 injuries and the displacement of 9,525 citizens across the provinces of Nampula, Niasa, and Zambezia.
In Malawi, three additional fatalities were recorded, and approximately 20,000 people have been made homeless in the southern region due to extensive flooding caused by the cyclone. Chiphiliro Khamula, spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), indicated that those who were displaced are currently being accommodated in evacuation centers.
The cyclone, which struck northern Mozambique early Sunday, subsequently moved into southern Malawi, where it caused severe flooding from Monday through Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that humanitarian relief efforts are facing significant challenges due to damaged access to roads and bridges.
It is noteworthy that Cyclone Chido had previously affected both countries in December, resulting in 73 fatalities in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in nine confirmed deaths and significant humanitarian crises in both Mozambique and Malawi. Numerous individuals have been displaced and rendered homeless, faced with the aftermath of devastating flooding. Current relief efforts are hindered by infrastructural damage, highlighting the need for improved emergency response protocols in the region.
Original Source: news.az
