Cyclone Freddy Mozambique Threat - WMO 24 February 2023
/
1:47
/
MP4
/
131.9 MB

Edited News | UNOG , WMO

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Tropical Storm Freddy Threats Mozambique - WMO 24 February 2023

Exceptional rainfall expected in Mozambique as tropical storm Freddy roars in, warns WMO

Flooding could impact 1.75 million people in the southeastern African country

Tropical cyclone Freddy, which has been sweeping across the Indian Ocean for several days, killed seven people in Madagascar. It is now projected to make landfall in Mozambique this Friday, 24 February, as a severe tropical storm, warned the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

“Tropical Cyclone Freddy has hit Madagascar with strong winds and high seas and it's now literally threatening Mozambique with - not so much winds here - but its very dangerous and exceptional rainfall levels,” explained Clare Nullis, WMO spokesperson at the press briefing in Geneva.

There is a potential risk that months’ worth of rainfall may fall in the space of a few days, according to estimates from the WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in the neighboring French island of La Réunion. “Météo France issued a warning of intense rainfall south of Beira, which is close to landfall, exceeding 200 to 300 millimeters and locally 400 millimeters in 72 hours. That is immense,” alerted Ms. Nullis.

Some 400,000 people are living in the areas of Freddy's projected trajectory, but the flooding could affect up to 1.75 million people, according to the Mozambique's National Institute for Disaster Management. Humanitarians are particularly concerned because the rainy season that started in October last year has left the soils in Mozambique saturated. “The river basin levels are already past alert level because there have been very heavy seasonal rainfalls so far,” said Ms. Nullis. “We shouldn't underestimate the threat of this additional rain.”

Tropical storm Freddy will continue to generate massive rain and flooding in the southeastern part of Africa, threatening to further worsen the cholera crisis, the UN World health Organization (WHO) has warned. Mozambique is already struggling to contain an outbreak that has affected more than 5,200 people since September 2022. All six provinces currently affected by cholera are flood-prone areas reported WHO's Cholera team lead, Dr Philippe Barboza. Over the past two weeks, cholera cases increased sharply by 17 per cent in the country.

Ends

STORY: Tropical Storm Freddy Mozambique Threat


TRT: 01’47”


SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
RELEASE DATE: 24 February 2023
HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

  1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
  2. Cutaway: Medium lateral shot, podium with speakers at press conference room, UN Geneva
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Clare Nullis, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Tropical Cyclone Freddy has hit Madagascar with strong winds and high seas and literally, as I'm speaking, it’s now threatening Mozambique with - it’s not so much the winds here - but its very, very dangerous and exceptional rainfall levels.”
  4. Cutaway: medium shot
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Clare Nullis, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Météo France issued a warning of intense rainfall south of Beira, which is close to landfall, exceeding 200 to 300 millimeters and locally 400 millimeters in 72 hours. That is immense.”
  6. Cutaway: close shot of journalist typing
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Clare Nullis, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The soils in Mozambique are already saturated. The river basin levels are already past alert level because there have been very, very heavy seasonal rainfalls so far. So, we shouldn't underestimate the threat of this additional rain.”
  8. Cutaway: medium shot of camera and press room
  1. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Clare Nullis, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The Mozambique's National Disaster Management Authority said that the flooding could affect up to 1.75 million people, and our colleagues at OCHA warns that the confluence of multiple threats is compounding a severe humanitarian situation in Mozambique.”
  2. Various cutaways shot of journalists and speakers in the press conference room

Similar Stories

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator ENG FRA

A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.

Heatwave update - WMO

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Heatwave update - WMO ENG FRA

The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday. 

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change ENG FRA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | WHO

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

The first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025

2

1

2

Statements , Edited News | HRC

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

Enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar presented by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and oral update by Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNOG

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025 ENG FRA

Violence in Myanmar is spiralling as the military junta increases its attacks on monasteries, schools and camps sheltering people uprooted by the civil war, a top independent human rights investigator warned on Wednesday.

Gaza update-OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Gaza update-OHCHR ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on Palestinians killed seeking food in Gaza

Iran update - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Iran update - OHCHR ENG FRA

Iran-Israel war: UN rights office concerned over strike on Tehran prison, reported espionage arrests

Tehran’s notorious Evin prison known for holding dissidents should not be a target, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday, a day after a reported Israeli strike on the complex.

Gaza update - UNICEF, WHO 20 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO

Gaza update - UNICEF, WHO 20 June 2025 ENG FRA

Death and suffering in Gaza are ever-present and the enclave's people now have little choice but to risk their lives to fetch aid supplies, UN agencies said on Friday. “I met a little boy who was wounded by a tank shell at one of these sites on the final day of me leaving Gaza - I learnt that this little boy had since died of those injuries,” said UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder. “That speaks to both what is happening at these sites and what is not happening when it comes to medical evacuations.”

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva

1

1

1

Edited News | UNCTAD

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva ENG FRA

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched today the World Investment Report 2025. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 11%, marking the second consecutive year of decline and confirming a deepening slowdown in productive capital flows, according to the report.

Afghan refugee and journalist Zahra Nader

1

1

1

Edited News

Afghan refugee and journalist Zahra Nader ENG FRA

Afghan journalist Zahra Nader fled twice due to Taliban rule, highlighting severe women's rights issues.