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Southwest Indian Ocean | Tropical Cyclone Chido Emergency Appeal: MDRS1005

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SITUATION OVERVIEW

Tropical Cyclone Chido was the first cyclone with a significant and destructive impact in the Southwest Indian Ocean region during what was forecasted to be an early and aboveaverage cyclone season, with particular risk to the Mascarene Islands, east Madagascar, and Mozambique. Chido intensified into an intense tropical cyclone on 11 December, reaching category 4 - equivalent status with sustained winds of 220 km/h and gusts of up to 250 km/h, and an extreme central pressure of 929 hPa. As of 22 December, Tropical Cyclone Chido has resulted in at least 142 confirmed deaths – 94 in Mozambique, 35 in Mayotte, and 13 in Malawi – and over 3,300 reported injuries.

The first country impacted was Madagascar, where Cyclone Chido’s path crossed about 100 km from its northern tip – the Diana Region. An estimated 135,838 people were projected to be affected. 2 Its strength was felt across several districts, causing significant damage to infrastructure and displacing residents. Heavy rains triggered flooding in several areas and impacted crops. Authorities, with the support from the Malagasy Red Cross, issued imminent danger warnings and took preventive measures, including the evacuation of at-risk communities.

The Comoros government declared a weeklong mourning following the crossing of the devastating cyclone on 14 December, which has affected 64,167 people in the islands of Anjouan and Moheli, including 171 families who lost their homes. Schools and houses were damaged or destroyed while an average of 45 per cent of agricultural crops were affected.

Tropical Cyclone Chido caused extensive devastation in Mayotte, with approximately 70 per cent of its population – around 230,000 people – severely impacted. 4 About 35,000 houses were destroyed, and the main hospital and airport were damaged, disrupting essential services and trade. There are roughly 100,000 people temporarily housed in 70 accommodation centres without water, food, or adequate hygiene and safety conditions.

In Mozambique, approximately 622,000 people have been affected by the cyclone, according to the latest reports. In Cabo Delgado alone, some 509,800 individuals have experienced severe damage to shelters and critical infrastructure, with significant impacts also reported in Tete, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. Over 130,000 shelters were damaged or destroyed, 5 and the cyclone has caused widespread destruction to livelihoods, deepening existing vulnerabilities in the affected regions.
In Malawi, nearly 45,000 people have been stranded due to the cyclone’s remnants highlighting the need for continued disaster management and humanitarian aid.
These figures are preliminary, as assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage to infrastructure and agriculture. The National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are on the ground, fulfilling their humanitarian mandate by supporting search and rescue operations, providing first aid, and assisting with family reunifications and relocations.
Alongside the intense emergency relief work underway, cyclone Chido’s impact underscores the importance of preparedness, readiness, and resilience in the face of increasingly intense tropical storms. This Emergency Appeal seeks to provide the necessary resources to the IFRC network to deliver humanitarian assistance. It also aims to enhance the readiness of National Societies and volunteers while strengthening the resilience of at-risk communities for the remainder of the cyclone season.