Cyclone Chido Devastates Cabo Delgado: Urgent Humanitarian Response Needed

Cyclone Chido struck Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, on December 15, 2024, causing widespread destruction and impacting approximately 687,630 individuals. The cyclone has led to significant loss of life, injuries, and damage to infrastructure, exacerbating the region’s existing vulnerabilities characterized by conflict and economic hardship. Urgent humanitarian response is required to address both immediate and long-term recovery needs.

On December 15, 2024, Cyclone Chido, a formidable Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone, struck the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique, following its path of devastation through Mauritius, Madagascar, and Mayotte. With winds reaching up to 250 kilometers per hour and persistent rains of 250 mm per hour, the cyclone wrought havoc on various districts, such as Chiúre, Mecufi, and Pemba. The storm inflicted considerable destruction upon homes, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and essential infrastructure, profoundly affecting the lives of an estimated 687,630 individuals. Reports indicate that over 120 lives have been lost, with 868 injuries recorded and damages to 118,605 houses, 52 health units, and 250 schools according to data from INGD.

Approximately 509,800 individuals were directly affected within the Cabo Delgado area, accounting for approximately 74.13% of those impacted overall. The ongoing assessment of damages and humanitarian needs is a priority as the situation continues to develop. Compounding the immediate crisis, the cyclone has interrupted power supplies and communication networks, significantly impairing emergency response operations. Furthermore, community protection actors on the ground have encountered difficulties orchestrating relief efforts due to similar challenges posed by the cyclone.

The cyclone has intensified existing vulnerabilities within the region, which were already exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, political instability, and a cholera outbreak. Many residents were living under precarious conditions prior to Chido’s landfall, grappling with economic hardships and accessibility to crucial services. The extensive destruction of infrastructure alongside interruptions to fundamental utilities has sky-rocketed the humanitarian needs within the affected populations, necessitating an urgent, cohesive response to address both immediate relief needs and the long-term rebuilding of stability and infrastructure in Cabo Delgado.

The tropical cyclone Chido presents a severe humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, which is already beset with vulnerabilities such as conflict and economic challenges. Cyclone Chido’s impact has manifested in widespread infrastructural damage across residential, educational, and healthcare facilities, affecting large swathes of the population. Understanding the multi-faceted issues of pre-existing crises exacerbated by the cyclone is crucial in addressing the ongoing humanitarian needs and recovery efforts.

In conclusion, Cyclone Chido has inflicted monumental damage upon Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian responses. With hundreds of thousands affected and significant infrastructure devastated, the region faces both immediate challenges and long-term recovery issues. It is imperative for humanitarian actors to mobilize resources effectively to assist affected populations while concurrently addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that have intensified due to the cyclone’s impact.

Original Source: reliefweb.int