Southern Africa has been ravaged by Cyclone Desiretaking at least 34 lives in Mozambique. At least 28 people were killed in the Cabo Delgado province, three died in Nampula province and another three in Niassa, according to a report from AFP.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed and almost 175,000 people have been affected by the storm’s fury.
The storm unleashed its fury with winds peaking to 160 mph and heavy rain resulting in widespread damage. Northern Mozambique, already struggling with conflict and poverty, has been hit hard by the cyclone, making recovery even more challenging for communities already facing severe hardships .
Before making its way to Mozambique, Cyclone Chido battered the French island of Mayotte, located in the Indian Ocean, where it caused at least 21 deaths. Sadly, many are still missing, and the true toll of the cyclone is feared to be much higher. The island’s infrastructure was badly damaged, with large parts of Mayotte left without electricity, water, or phone services. A curfew has been put in place to prevent looting as food and fuel shortages are reported. The Red Cross is also worried that hundreds of its volunteers are missing.
About a third of the population live in overcrowded, tin-roofed informal settlements, many of which were completely destroyed by winds of up to 225 km/h. Many undocumented migrants were too afraid to leave the slums and seek shelter from the storm, fearing they would be deported. This fear is now preventing many from coming forward to ask for help, according to officials quoted by The Guardian.
The cyclone moved on from Mayotte to Mozambique and headed for Malawi, where it has already taken seven lives and affected over 35,000. The storm is believed to have worsened by climate change, with warmer ocean temperatures at its core. The cyclone has added to the region’s difficulties, as southern Africa has been struggling with a prolonged drought that has left millions in need of food and water.
The damage caused by Cyclone Chido has highlighted the struggles of people living in informal settlements, particularly in Mayotte. Even though French president Emmanuel Macron and other officials have pledged to provide aid, this tragedy serves as a reminder that more needs to be done to help those who are most at risk.
