Cyclone Jude has devastated northern Mozambique, affecting over 20,000 children’s education and impacting 747,000 people overall. With infrastructure severely compromised, including schools and health facilities, there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases. UNICEF reports that aid efforts are struggling to keep pace with the needs due to resource constraints after multiple cyclones.
Recent reports indicate that Cyclone Jude has struck Mozambique, leaving approximately 20,000 children without access to education due to destroyed schools, along with damage to over 20,000 homes. An estimated 747,000 individuals, including half of them being children, have been impacted by the cyclone’s destructive winds, intense rainfall, and flash flooding across the northern provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia.
Cyclone Jude made landfall on Monday, bringing winds of up to 195 km/h, causing extensive infrastructural damage to roads, water supply systems, electricity networks, health facilities, and educational institutions. Reports from UNICEF highlight that 17,000 children are currently deprived of education, a number that is anticipated to increase in the following days.
The severe flooding that followed is heightening the risks of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and diarrhea, which pose significant threats to children’s health. Moreover, the devastation of major roadways is hampering the distribution of essential goods at a time when over 730,000 individuals were already reeling from the effects of tropical cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, that recently damaged or destroyed more than 150,000 homes, 471 schools, and 100 health facilities.
Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF Representative in Mozambique, articulated the situation, stating, “The impact of Cyclone Jude on hundreds of thousands of children and families already affected by Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi is devastating. Extreme winds and heavy rains have destroyed critical infrastructure and are depriving vulnerable children of essential services.” In response, UNICEF is collaborating with partners and the government; however, Eagleton emphasized that resources are urgently needed as they are already stretched thin from responding to multiple disasters within months.
In conclusion, Cyclone Jude has severely impacted Mozambique, particularly affecting children’s access to education and exacerbating health risks due to flooding. With thousands of homes destroyed and critical infrastructure compromised, the combined effects of this cyclone and its predecessors underscore the urgent need for additional resources and support for affected communities. UNICEF’s response is ongoing but requires further assistance to meet the rising needs of the vulnerable population.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
