Cyclone Chido’s devastating impact on Mozambique has intensified with officials confirming at least 94 casualties, marking a sharp increase from the previously reported 76 deaths. The powerful storm, which first ravaged the French territory of Mayotte before striking mainland Africa, has left a trail of destruction including 110,000 destroyed homes in its wake.
The cyclone’s fury was particularly severe in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado, where winds reaching 260 kilometers per hour and torrential rainfall of 250 millimeters in a single day wreaked havoc. The region, already grappling with an ongoing Islamist insurgency, now faces unprecedented humanitarian challenges with more than 500,000 of the 620,000 affected Mozambicans concentrated in this area.
Climate experts have linked the storm’s exceptional intensity to human-driven climate change, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of coastal regions to extreme weather events. UNICEF’s documentation of the destruction reveals the extent of the damage, including a mosque in Mecufi district that had its roof completely torn away by the fierce winds.
The natural disaster has complicated Mozambique’s already tense political situation following contested October elections. Daniel Chapo, the ruling Frelimo party’s presidential candidate whose victory has been challenged by opposition groups, visited the affected areas on Sunday. His win has sparked protests that have reportedly claimed 130 lives, according to figures from local civil society group Plataforma Decide, cited by Amnesty International.
Chapo, scheduled for presidential inauguration on January 15 pending Constitutional Council approval, has made a public appeal for nationwide donations of food and clothing for cyclone victims. However, his calls for unity come amid opposition leader Venancio Mondlane’s threats of “chaos” if the election results are validated.
The cyclone’s impact extends beyond Mozambique’s borders. France’s Mayotte territory reported 35 deaths and approximately 2,500 injuries, with fears of a higher toll due to undocumented migrants from the neighboring Comoros islands residing in vulnerable shanty towns. The Comoros, which maintains a territorial claim over Mayotte, observed a national day of mourning despite reporting no casualties on its soil.
As the cyclone moved inland, it reached Malawi with diminished but still deadly force, claiming 13 lives and leaving nearly 30 people injured. The timing of the disaster is particularly cruel as both Mozambique and Malawi were already struggling with what the United Nations has described as southern Africa’s worst drought in a century.
The political unrest in Mozambique has further complicated relief efforts, with protests against the election results disrupting essential services, including the operation of several power plants. Reports of police using live ammunition against demonstrators have added another layer of tension to the crisis.
The international community has begun mobilizing support for the affected regions, though the full scope of the disaster continues to unfold. Aid organizations face the challenging task of delivering assistance in areas where infrastructure has been severely damaged and where political instability threatens to hamper relief efforts.
This latest catastrophe underscores the complex interplay between natural disasters, political instability, and climate change in vulnerable regions. As Mozambique and its neighbors work to recover from Cyclone Chido’s impact, the long-term challenges of rebuilding infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, and maintaining political stability remain daunting tasks for the region’s leadership.
