Mozambique - Tropical Cyclone Jude Flash Update No. 5 (as of 19 March 2025) [EN/PT]

HIGHLIGHTS

● As of 18 March, according to INGD, Tropical Cyclone Jude has affected 390,222 people / 83,933 families across six provinces, with Nampula being the hardest hit, accounting for 85% of the total affected population. With more areas becoming accessible, this figure will likely increase, but some areas and communities remain isolated and hardto-reach.

● A total of 14,735 people (about 3.7% of affected population) have received emergency food assistance (7 days ration). The majority of the affected people remain unassisted, about 10 days after Cyclone Jude made landfall.

● Physical access has been severely impacted, with 17 districts isolated due to damage to 670 kilometers of roads across 5 provinces. With ongoing rains and rainy season expected until April, the operational context will continue to be challenging.

● The cholera outbreak continues to spread with 104 new cases reported across Nampula and Zambézia Provinces. A fifth district in Nampula – Angoche –declared an outbreak on 18 March with 31 cases recorded, while a second district in Zambézia – Alto Molocue – also declared outbreak as of 19 March with a cumulative of 20 cases that resulted in 7 deaths.

● At least 12,324 people remain in 36 temporary accommodation centers in Nampula and Zambezia, and 9,457 of them who are in 28 accommodation centers have yet to receive some form of assistance.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

According to the latest data from the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD), as of 18 March, at least 390,222 people / 83,933 families have been affected by the cyclone across the provinces of Nampula, Zambezia, Sofala, Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Tete. The province of Nampula is the worst hit, accounting for 332,583 people of the total affected population (85%).

According to the CCCM Cluster situation report #2, about 28,626 people were hosted in 71 accommodation centers in Nampula and Zambezia at the height of the cyclone impact. To date, 12,324 people remain in 36 temporary accommodation centers in Meconta, Mossuril, Monapo, Ilha de Moçambique, Muecate, Rapale in Nampula province, and Maganja da Costa in Zambezia province. Initial assessments identified Shelter & NFI, WASH, Food Assistance, Healthcare, and Protection as the most urgent needs in the most affected districts.

Widespread destruction to houses, schools and health facilities has intensified the challenges of humanitarian response and early recovery, especially with the affected people still recovering from the impact of Chido and Dikeledi, and with the cyclone season still ongoing until April. A total of 40,164 houses were destroyed and 48,843 houses were damaged, further exposing the already precarious situation of the affected population to the harsh elements. Shelter partners estimate that at least 138,000 houses were destroyed or damaged cumulatively from the impact of the three cyclones.

The Nampula Provincial Health Directorate (DPS) reports significant disruption in the provision of health services as 81 health units were affected and medical supply shortages limit the availability of emergency response and routine care. The Education department is reporting similar interruptions in the resumption of classes as 272 schools, including 729 classrooms, were damaged, impacting the continuing education of 94,761 students.

According to WFP’s ADAM Flood Impact Analysis, a total of 1.416 million hectares of land were inundated across seven affected provinces of Cabo Delgado, Manica, Nampula,Niasa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia, and Tete where an estimated 566,438 people are living, including 209,746 vulnerable elderly, women and children. The flood analysis also showed that 62,684 hectares of cropland were destroyed by the inundation resulting in significant production losses, severely impacting livelihoods and food security. In the most affected province of Nampula, at least 36,538 hectares of cropland were lost affecting the produce (cassava, rice, corn, peanuts, sesame and beans) and livelihoods of 4,146 farmers. Nampula province already has eight districts facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 87,000 people likely to be in IPC4 due to the impact of the successive cyclones.

On 15 March, the President of Mozambique visited Nampula Province, to express solidarity with the affected population and assess the damage to key road infrastructure. During the visit to some of the most affected areas such as Mossuril and Ilha de Moçambique, the President expressed satisfaction with the ongoing support provided to affected families and highlighted the importance of preventive work done by INGD and Local Disaster Risk Management Committees. The President also assured that contractors have already been mobilized to make the necessary repairs to key roads, guaranteeing much needed access for authorities and partners to reach the affected remote areas

The National Roads Administration (ANE) has reported that 14 road segments were damaged, cutting off vital access within Nampula and towards the other provinces. 2,800 kilometers of roads have been affected, with 670 kilometers damaged across the provinces of Nampula, Zambézia, Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Tete. The destruction, which includes 20 bridges, 3 pontoons, 5 drifts and 42 culverts, has severely disrupted accessibility to 17 districts across these provinces. As of 18 March, the section of the N1: Nampula-Namialo is accessible via a detour created onsite. Sections of the N1 over the Monapo and Mecuburi rivers are still impassable, however, repair works have already begun.

According to the INGD President, the government does not have sufficient air assets to reach the interior areas of the affected districts such as Ilha de Moçambique and Angoche. In a meeting with OCHA and WFP on 18 March, the Nampula governor informed that several affected populations remain physically inaccessible from government and humanitarian teams in some villages in the districts of Ilha de Moçambique, Mecuburi, Muecate and Lalaua. The governor also informed that there are two available military watercraft that may be used for the government's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and he requested support with fuel from humanitarian partners. The request is in accordance with the guidelines on the use of military assets in natural disaster response (Oslo Guidelines) as a last resort, a UN agency has offered initial 300 liters of fuel to facilitate movements.

Works are already ongoing to restore connectivity in several areas of Nampula, especially along the N1 which is restricting the movement of people and supplies to Cabo Delgado. Fuel for Cabo Delgado is sourced from Nacala (Nampula) and transported by road, and fuel shortages are being reported in Pemba, with long queues at gas stations and half of them already out of fuel. Humanitarian operations in Cabo Delgado, including UNHAS flights, could be affected if the fuel shortage is not addressed.

The latest Ministry of Health report on the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country indicates that since October, a total of 1,773 cases have been recorded across Nampula (1,537) and Zambézia (236) provinces resulting in the deaths of 42 patients. The report, published on 19 March, showed 104 new cases in the last 24 hours across Nampula (99) and Zambézia (5) provinces. Angoche has become the fifth district in Nampula to declare a cholera outbreak, while Alto Molocué is the second district in Zambézia to do so with a cumulative of 20 cases of which 7 resulted in deaths . The response continues to face challenges brought by misinformation and rumors by the local communities over the origins and spread of cholera, posing a threat to the safety and operations of health workers and partners.

Northern Mozambique has been severely impacted by three successive cyclones since December 2024, and three months after people still continue struggling to recover with many yet to receive full assistance as they attempt to rebuild their lives.