KEY POINTS
- Cyclone Chido killed 94 people and injured 768 in Mozambique.
- Over 622,000 people were affected; schools and health facilities damaged.
- Calls grow for resilient planning to address climate change impacts.
Cyclone Chido has left a devastating mark on Mozambique, killing 94 people and injuring 768 since making landfall on Dec. 15.
Over 622,000 people have been affected, with widespread destruction of homes, schools, and healthcare facilities, according to Mozambique’s National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD).
The storm brought ferocious winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and dumped 250 mm of rain in just 24 hours.
It first hit Cabo Delgado, a northern province frequently targeted by cyclones, before moving inland to Niassa and Nampula provinces.
“The cyclone highlights, once again, the vulnerability of social infrastructures to climate change and the need for resilient planning to mitigate future impacts,” the INGD said in a statement.
Schools and health services among hardest hit
More than 109,000 students have been displaced or affected as Cyclone Chido destroyed school infrastructure, leaving education services in disarray.
According to BBC News, the health sector has also suffered a significant blow, with 52 facilities damaged, further restricting access to essential healthcare.
In regions where medical resources were already limited, the cyclone has exacerbated the challenges, putting thousands at greater risk.
Daniel Chapo, a leader in Mozambique’s ruling party, assured the public that the government is “mobilizing support on all levels.”
During a visit to Cabo Delgado, one of the hardest-hit areas, Chapo said efforts are underway to help affected communities in Mecúfi, Nampula, and Niassa rebuild.
A call for resilient infrastructure amid climate change
Cyclone Chido has underscored the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
Rising temperatures have been linked to higher precipitation and the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Mozambique, along with neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe, faces an ongoing struggle with extreme weather, making the need for resilient infrastructure more urgent than ever.
As relief efforts continue, aid organizations and government bodies stress the importance of long-term planning to mitigate the devastating impacts of such natural disasters.
