Cyclone Jude Leaves Nampula Families Homeless and Hungry

By António Massipa, Regional Communications and Advocacy Coordinator 

 Cyclone Jude has left a trail of destruction in Nampula province, displacing hundreds of families and leaving them without food or shelter. Filomena and her young daughter are among those affected and now living in a school converted into a temporary accommodation centre.

"It was terror," Filomena said, describing the cyclone's impact. "The wind was so strong. We tried to save our house, filling sacks with sand, but it was no use. The storm destroyed everything."

Their home, like many others, was flattened. Belongings, including vital food supplies, were lost. Filomena and her daughter now share cramped quarters with approximately 100 other families in the school, where her daughter once attended classes. The school, once a place of learning, is now a refuge for those left homeless.

The situation is dire. "We are struggling to eat," Filomena explained. "We had some maize flour, but it's gone. Now, there is no food." The lack of food is a critical concern, adding to the hardship faced by the displaced families. 

 While the school offers shelter, it cannot provide the essential resources needed for survival. Residents are relying on limited aid, with dwindling supplies and a desperate need for more support.

 The scale of Cyclone Jude's destruction is immense. According to the INGD, over 100,000 people are affected, with thousands left homeless: 13,200 houses partially damaged and 7,000 utterly destroyed. The storm also decimated 1,200 hectares of vital crops.