Cyclone Jude crashed through Mozambique on Monday, unleashing powerful winds of up to 120 km per hour and torrential rain that caused severe flooding and widespread destruction. The storm has left countless residents homeless, displaced, and without power as it tore through the country’s coastal regions.
The Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology confirmed that the tropical cyclone made landfall in the early hours of the morning over the district of Mossuril in Nampula province, catching many off guard with its intensity.
For residents in Nacala, a major port city in the province, the storm’s impact was immediate and overwhelming. Homes were destroyed, roads were flooded, and essential services were brought to a standstill. Many people found themselves stranded as heavy rain and high winds made it nearly impossible to move around safely.
“This rain doesn’t stop falling; it started around 1 a.m., and they’re saying it’s going to rain for 24 hours. The wind and thunder don’t stop,” said Isabel Namoro, a resident of Nacala. “The backyard walls and gates have fallen down. We can’t go to the market; there’s a lot of water. We’re suffering a lot.”
The cyclone has only worsened an already fragile situation in Mozambique. The country is still struggling to recover from two previous cyclones—one in December and another in January. The repeated natural disasters have stretched humanitarian response teams to their limits, making it even harder to provide relief to those affected by this latest catastrophe. Many families are still trying to rebuild their lives after losing their homes in previous storms, and now they face yet another devastating setback.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described the current situation as “very bad” and has warned of the serious risks posed to children. Flooding has significantly increased the likelihood of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, putting thousands of young lives at risk. Mozambique’s Nampula province has the highest number of children in the country, making the situation particularly alarming for aid agencies working to protect them.
Sheila, another resident of Nacala, spoke about the challenges people are facing on the ground. “It has been raining in Nacala since yesterday. Children are unable to go to school, and they have no way to buy bread or anything,” she said. “There is a lot of wind, houses and zinc sheets are falling down. In this area, five houses have collapsed. Our neighbors are crying; they are suffering.”
Local authorities and international relief organizations have been working around the clock to assess the extent of the damage and provide assistance to those in need. Emergency response teams have been deployed to deliver aid, including food, clean drinking water, and medical supplies. However, the sheer scale of the destruction has made relief efforts challenging. Many roads are flooded or blocked by debris, making it difficult for emergency workers to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.
In response to the crisis, UNICEF has been working closely with the Mozambican government to distribute emergency aid kits and other essential supplies. The organization has emphasized the urgent need for clean water and sanitation to prevent the outbreak of deadly diseases. Temporary shelters have also been set up for displaced families, but resources remain limited.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the Mozambican government has issued warnings about the possibility of further heavy rains in the coming days. Meteorologists are closely monitoring weather patterns, fearing that additional downpours could worsen the already dire situation.
Mozambique has long been vulnerable to extreme weather events, with cyclones and floods frequently devastating communities. Climate change has made these disasters more frequent and severe, raising concerns about the country’s ability to cope with such recurring catastrophes. Experts have called for increased investment in climate resilience and disaster preparedness to help mitigate the impact of future storms.
Humanitarian organizations are urging the international community to step in and provide additional support. The need for emergency funding is critical to ensure that aid reaches those most affected as quickly as possible. The Mozambican Red Cross and other local organizations have also launched relief efforts, calling on donors to contribute to rebuilding efforts.
Despite the destruction, Mozambicans remain resilient. Communities are coming together to support one another, sharing food and shelter where possible. Volunteers and aid workers continue to brave the harsh conditions to deliver much-needed assistance to those in distress.
As the country begins to assess the full scale of the damage, it is clear that recovery will take time. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining how quickly Mozambique can rebuild and provide relief to those in need. Cyclone Jude has once again highlighted the urgent need for better disaster preparedness, stronger infrastructure, and greater international support to help the country withstand future storms.
For now, the priority remains on saving lives and preventing further suffering. Emergency response teams are working tirelessly, but the road to recovery will be long. As the rains continue to pour, the people of Mozambique brace for more hardship, hoping that help will arrive in time.
