Cyclone Chido has caused widespread devastation in northern Mozambique. After hitting the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte in the Comoros archipelago on December 15, it swept down the east coast of Africa to Mozambique and Malawi. Thousands of people have been displaced in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces.
In recent years, major storms – Cyclone Freddy in 2023, Gombe in 2022 and Idai in 2019 – have affected Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Chido’s disaster highlights a broader trend of worsening weather patterns due to climate change. Southern Africa is experiencing more and more extreme weather patterns, increasing global temperatures.
“This is all because with global warming, temperatures over the Indian Oceans are rising higher than normal. And this is creating a conductive environment for the development of these cyclones.”, said Lucy Mtilatila, director of climate change and meteorological services in Malawi.
“Right now, we’re seeing that climate change is really affecting us,” he told DW. “We used to have tropical cyclones that hit Malawi, but that was maybe once in 10 years. But right now, you Can see the frequency.”
Concern about long-term effects
Cyclone Chido caused heavy rainfall and winds up to 260 km/h (160 mph), damaging buildings, uprooting trees and plunging entire areas into darkness. Two deaths were reported in Pemba, the port city of Cabo Delgado, and the drowning of a three-year-old child was reported in Nampula.
The National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) said more than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain fell in just 24 hours, worsening the situation in the already vulnerable region. Humanitarian organizations are responding quickly, but the need is great.
“UNICEF is concerned about the immediate impact of this cyclone – the loss of life, damage to schools, homes and health facilities,” said Guy Taylor, UNICEF representative in Mozambique.
“But we are also concerned about the long-term impacts: children potentially being deprived of learning for weeks, people unable to access health care, and the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria. “
Emergency shelters have been set up in Pemba for about 2,800 people. But the true scale of damage and displacement remained unclear. Officials said some districts like Memba in Nampula province have been contacted due to power cuts.
The extent of the damage is not yet clear
Malawi and Mozambique are still trying to rebuild infrastructure lost in previous cyclones.
Luisa Meque, head of Mozambique’s National Institute for Risk and Disaster Management, estimates Chido’s intensity is similar to last year’s Cyclone Freddy. But the evaluation is still ongoing, he told DW.
In Malawi, schools were suspended in 15 districts due to heavy rain and strong winds. The cyclone weakened as it moved inland towards Niassa Province and southern Malawi.
Mozambican officials said they were concerned about its potential to increase food insecurity and damage infrastructure.
“I don’t have records at the moment what impact it has had on farms, but we know that in some areas they have not planted yet, but still, we are waiting for an assessment,” Mtilatila said.
It is important to prepare long before a cyclone hits
Malawi appeared prepared to deal with Cyclone Chido. ,This time many institutions were ready. We are preparing in the health, education and transportation sectors,” Mtilatila told DW.
Coordination between national and district-level teams was much stronger than when Cyclone Freddy struck. “I think the coordination now is very good. We have a lot of sectors coming forward to work together to respond to disasters like this,” Mtilatila said.
,SWe were impressed with Idai from 2019. In 2022, we were hit by Tropical Storm Ana and Tropical Cyclone Gomi. And then 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy, we haven’t recovered yet, It’s really hard for communities to be resilient to these disasters right now.
Mtilatila believes there needs to be a greater emphasis on plans to relocate vulnerable communities, build resilient infrastructure and adapt farming practices. “Preparedness is not just about when a cyclone is going to hit, but also how we prepare ourselves when we are planning our settlements, for example. This is where we need to start,
Outlook for the future
The Malawi government had ordered food and relief supplies in advance of Cyclone Chido. This country, one of the least developed countries in the world, is facing drought and hunger.
“Last year was not a good year for us because of El Nino, the yields, crop yields were not that good. So already people are struggling to access food,” Mtilatila told DW.
Meanwhile, UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), ActionAid are among the organizations involved in relief efforts in Mozambique and Malawi. According to UNICEF representative Guy Taylor, even more assistance is urgently needed.
And with the frequency and severity of cyclones increasing due to climate change, experts are calling for more international support to build resilience and address the root causes of global warming.
, As we are being affected by these cyclones, we are learning a lot. “So, as we are building back, we are doing it better so that we don’t have to make ourselves vulnerable,” Mtilatila told DW.
Edited by: Benita Van Eysen
