Response to the Humanitarian Crisis Following Tropical Cyclone Chido in Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Chido impacted Mozambique on December 15, 2024, leading to extensive infrastructure damage and displacement. Only four accommodation centers are officially activated, while many families resort to makeshift shelters. The CCCM Cluster partners are assessing needs and implementing strategies to improve living conditions, address basic service shortages, and support recovery efforts in the affected regions.

The Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique’s Mecúfi district on December 15, 2024, severely affecting communities across Cabo Delgado and Niassa and also impacting the northern regions of Nampula. The cyclone resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, loss of lives, injuries, and significant displacement, compounding existing humanitarian needs. Despite the activation of only four formal accommodation centers by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction Management (INGD), many displaced individuals remain in makeshift shelters, necessitating urgent humanitarian assistance and enhancements to living conditions.

The CCCM Cluster partners, including IOM, UNHCR, ASMOG, and Pronanac, are working collaboratively with local authorities to assess and respond to the surge in humanitarian needs. Current assessments reveal that certain school facilities are used as informal accommodation centers, highlighting a critical gap in formal recognition and the need for an efficient designation of these spaces. Moreover, many families continue to rely on open areas or community facilities for shelter, underlining the ongoing struggle to secure adequate accommodations.

Beyond immediate needs for food, shelter, hygiene, and health services, there exists a pressing need to improve living conditions through the provision of basic services. This entails supplying adequate lighting for safety, ensuring handwashing facilities and communal toilets at service reception centers, and catering specifically to vulnerable populations. Additionally, the reconfiguration of pre-existing neighborhoods is essential to restore their functionality and improve access, with a focus on rebuilding essential community facilities such as information centers and safe spaces.

In Pemba, UNHCR and Pronanac have stepped back from managing three accommodation centers, while IOM continues to engage with local authorities to support displaced populations housed in identified facilities. The collective efforts of humanitarian partners are crucial in ensuring dignified living conditions for affected communities and paving the way for recovery in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The context of this report centers on the repercussions of Tropical Cyclone Chido that struck Mozambique in December 2024. The cyclone particularly affected the southern districts of Cabo Delgado and Niassa, and disrupted life in the northern districts of Nampula. The event intensified the existing humanitarian crises, marked by infrastructure damage, increased displacement, and heightened communal needs, necessitating coordinated responses among various humanitarian organizations and government bodies to address the emerging crisis effectively.

In conclusion, the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Chido has created urgent humanitarian challenges in Mozambique, with thousands displaced and basic services severely impacted. The need for immediate action is critical as various partners work together to enhance living conditions through proper accommodation, essential services, and community rebuilding efforts. Collaborative strategies are essential for maximizing the effectiveness of responses to ensure a sustained recovery for affected populations.

Original Source: reliefweb.int