The recent devastation caused by Cyclone Gezani serves as a stark reminder of the pressing global climate challenges faced by nations, particularly in Southern Africa. As it battered Mozambique’s Inhambane province shortly after wreaking havoc in Madagascar, the storm highlights not only the immediate human toll but also underscores the urgent need for sustained international aid and climate resilience efforts in regions vulnerable to such natural disasters.
Cyclone Gezani has struck Mozambique’s southern coastal province of Inhambane, resulting in at least four fatalities, as confirmed by local officials. This disaster follows the cyclone’s earlier impact on Madagascar, where it claimed the lives of 41 individuals and left significant destruction in its wake. Meteorologists reported that the cyclone unleashed winds of up to 215 km/h (134 mph) on Inhambane, causing extensive damage, downing trees and power lines, and rendering over 13,000 residents without electricity, according to the national electric company.
Furthermore, water supply disruptions were reported across several districts within Inhambane, a city that hosts approximately 100,000 inhabitants. Mozambique has sadly endured an array of climate-related calamities, which scientists assert have been intensified by climate change. The country is still recovering from severe flooding that recently affected over 700,000 individuals and damaged more than 170,000 homes, as asserted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Turning to Madagascar, the aftermath of Cyclone Gezani has prompted the government to declare a national emergency, estimating the storm’s damage at around 2 million. The toll in Madagascar includes at least 427 injuries and approximately 16,300 displaced individuals. The cyclone’s eye passed over Toamasina, Madagascar’s second-largest city with a population of 400,000, leaving it in ruin. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, the island nation’s leader, reported that about 75 percent of Toamasina was destroyed.
Tania Goosens, the World Food Programme (WFP) director in Madagascar, described the sheer magnitude of destruction in Toamasina as overwhelming, stating that around 80 percent of the city has been damaged. Moreover, she highlighted the dire situation regarding electricity and water supply—only about 5 percent of the city has power, and residents lack access to safe drinking water, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The WFP’s office and one of its warehouses were also completely destroyed, complicating the relief efforts for the affected population.
These catastrophic events underscore the critical need for global investment in climate resilience and humanitarian support in the face of increasingly frequent and severe weather-related disasters.
#WorldNews #MiddleEastNews