Cyclone Chido Devastates Northern Mozambique, Affecting Thousands of Children

Tropical Cyclone Chido has struck northern Mozambique, impacting approximately 90,000 children and displacing thousands. The storm has destroyed over 35,000 homes, as well as 186,000 classrooms and health facilities. The UN and various agencies are mobilizing emergency aid, but challenges persist due to ongoing conflicts and limited resources. The crisis highlights the need for continued humanitarian support in the region.

Tropical Cyclone Chido recently struck northern Mozambique, resulting in widespread devastation, particularly in Cabo Delgado province. The storm has adversely affected approximately 90,000 children, with the destruction of over 35,000 homes and significant damage to infrastructure, including 186,000 classrooms and health facilities. Current assessments indicate an overarching impact on at least 174,000 individuals, a figure that may rise as further evaluations continue. The cyclone’s landfall near Pemba further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in a region already grappling with climate change and ongoing conflicts.

Cabo Delgado has faced seven years of intense conflict, leading to over 1.3 million internally displaced individuals, predominantly women and children. For many, Cyclone Chido has inflicted additional suffering, undoing modest rebuilding efforts. Its effects were felt beyond Cabo Delgado; Nampula and Niassa provinces experienced similar devastation, with over 25,000 families left without electricity and critical water infrastructure damaged. In a region already combating cholera, authorities fear the cyclone’s impact may worsen health conditions significantly.

In response, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has mobilized aid, providing emergency relief to over 2,600 individuals in Pemba within the initial 48 hours post-cyclone. Preliminary assessments indicate that about 190,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, with reports of nearly 10,000 destroyed homes and 33 affected schools. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has remarked on the organization’s readiness to deliver further support in addressing these humanitarian needs, though response efforts are hindered by limited supplies.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $4 million for an initial humanitarian response in Mozambique, amidst projections of 3.3 million people facing significant food insecurity next year. The World Food Programme intends to escalate efforts to assist those most significantly impacted by the cyclone. Other impacted regions include Mayotte, suffering fatalities and infrastructure damage, as well as southern Malawi, which experienced similar weather-related destruction. The situation remains fluid, with agencies continuously assessing and coordinating relief efforts.

Tropical Cyclone Chido has emerged as a significant humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, particularly affecting children in Cabo Delgado province. The region, already plagued by conflict and various emergencies, has witnessed intensified vulnerabilities due to the cyclone, which inflicted considerable damage to essential infrastructure. Assessments reveal a staggering number of individuals in need of assistance, particularly amidst ongoing health crises and food insecurity. The international community’s response is critical in addressing the immediate and long-term impacts faced by affected populations.

In summary, Tropical Cyclone Chido has devastated northern Mozambique, impacting tens of thousands of children and displacing many families. With critical infrastructure and homes destroyed, the humanitarian situation remains dire, especially in Cabo Delgado province, which has faced concurrent challenges of conflict and disease. While immediate aid is being mobilized, the need for substantial and sustained support remains urgent as organizations work to alleviate suffering and prevent further deterioration of health conditions in the region.

Original Source: news.un.org