At least 34 people have been killed and 175,000 displaced after Tropical Cyclone Chido struck northern Mozambique over the weekend, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The cyclone brought torrential rains and powerful winds, devastating communities in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces. The storm destroyed thousands of homes, damaged vital infrastructure, and disrupted communication networks, severely hampering relief efforts in regions already hosting large numbers of forcibly displaced people due to ongoing conflict.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern about the impact on vulnerable communities and is actively collaborating with the Government of Mozambique and humanitarian partners to provide immediate support. Within the first 48 hours, UNHCR distributed emergency relief, including blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and shelter supplies, to more than 2,600 displaced people in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado. The agency is also coordinating protection services for the most vulnerable populations.

While the full extent of damage in rural areas is still being assessed, early reports suggest that around 190,000 people urgently require humanitarian assistance. The cyclone destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, affected 33 schools, and left entire villages with very few houses still standing. Years of conflict, forced displacement, and economic hardship have made these communities increasingly vulnerable. For many displaced families, Cyclone Chido has caused renewed devastation, wiping away what little they had managed to rebuild.

Prior to the storm, UNHCR and its partners pre-positioned emergency supplies and worked with the Government to disseminate disaster preparedness messages via TV, radio, WhatsApp, and hotlines. In Nampula, the Maratane refugee camp, home to over 8,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, reported minimal damage. This suggests that recent efforts to build climate-resilient housing have been effective.

Cyclone Chido’s impact extended beyond Mozambique. In Mayotte, a French overseas territory, the storm caused fatalities, severe infrastructure damage, and increased risks for vulnerable populations, including asylum-seekers and refugees. Additionally, in southern Malawi, the cyclone brought strong winds and heavy rains, damaging homes and infrastructure. UNHCR has pre-positioned shelter kits to aid the Government’s response.

UNHCR warned that Cyclone Chido could mark the beginning of an intense and destructive rainy season, historically characterized by cyclones and severe flooding. Displaced communities, already struggling to recover, face increased risks of further displacement and loss.

Highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate disasters on vulnerable populations, UNHCR reiterated its commitment to supporting affected communities in Mozambique and across the region. However, the agency warned that resources are rapidly depleting, with thousands more people expected to require urgent assistance in the coming days. (ILKHA)