The Mozambique Red Cross Society activates its Early Action Protocol for Cyclones

The Mozambique Red Cross Society activated its Early Action Protocol (EAP) for Cyclones on 8 March 2025, based on forecasts that Tropical Cyclone Jude would make landfall in the early hours of 10 March. This was the second activation in Mozambique within just two weeks, following the activation of its EAP for Floods in the southern province of Gaza in February. 

The National Society successfully navigated the limited forecast lead time, and a number of logistical challenges, to implement a series of anticipatory actions. These protected vulnerable communities in Mossuril, Nampula Province, in the little more than 24 hours before the cyclone struck at 06:00 local time on 10 March.

Triggering the EAP

The EAP is triggered when forecasts predict windspeeds greater than 120km/h, or 100km/h in areas with heightened vulnerability among the population. Successive cyclones had already affected Nampula Province this season, in December 2024 and January 2025, leaving communities more vulnerable to any further cyclones and justifying the lower 100km/h threshold. The decision to activate came on 8 March, when the Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology predicted that Tropical Storm Jude would reach Nampula with sustained wind speeds of more than 100 km/h.   

Due to the level of destruction caused by the previous storms and the forecast track of Tropical Cyclone Jude, the Mozambique Red Cross Society identified the district of Mossuril as a priority area for its anticipatory actions.

Acting early to help communities at risk

With just hours before landfall, the Mozambique Red Cross Society swiftly mobilized its volunteers and resources. It also coordinated with national and local authorities, including the National Institute for Disaster Management, the Service Department of Planning and Infrastructure and local government units. The team went to Mossuril to implement the following actions:

• Dissemination of early warning messages to communities, directing people to safe evacuation sites. These messages provided clear instructions on how to reduce the cyclone’s potential impacts on their homes and their health, for example through guidance on shelter reinforcements and the prevention of water-borne diseases.
• Mapping the areas at risk and identifying three safe zones for evacuation, in coordination with the district government of Mossuril.
• Support to families to move essential household items to safe places.
• Identification and registration of vulnerable families, with 2,000 households receiving hygiene and water-purification materials, before possible disease outbreaks due to the contamination of water sources.

After carrying out all of the anticipatory actions that could be implemented in the short lead time, the Mozambique Red Cross Society and its partners continued to monitor the cyclone's track, as well as potential secondary impacts such as flooding, to inform the post-impact response.  

Challenges in implementation

While implementing these actions, the Mozambique Red Cross Society and its partners faced challenges including logistical setbacks and security concerns. Moreover, the 72 hours lead time originally intended in the EAP provided only 24 hours to implement the actions on the ground. Despite all this, it successfully reached some of the most at-risk communities ahead of the storm.