Paola Emerson, head of the OCHA office in the country, reported in Geneva that over half a million people have been affected by floods due to heavy rains early this year. “The numbers keep rising as flooding continues and dams release water to avoid bursting,” she stated. Mozambique’s Gaza, Maputo, and Sofala provinces are the most affected.
In Xai-Xai, Gaza’s capital, Ms. Emerson highlighted that 90% of people live in adobe houses, which start to collapse after prolonged rain. Health facilities, roads, and critical infrastructure are also severely impacted. Around 5,000 kilometers of roads have been damaged across nine provinces, including the main road connecting Maputo to the rest of the country, causing major supply chain disruptions.
Dams continue releasing water despite the reduction in rainfall. From just one dam, up to 10,000 cubic meters of water are discharged every second, illustrating the immense force and impact on people and infrastructure.
The Mozambican government has declared a national emergency, establishing an emergency operations center in Gaza province. Xai-Xai, near the Limpopo River, is heavily flooded, prompting evacuations. Alerts have been issued for downtown Xai-Xai, warning of crocodile risks in flooded areas. “River levels are rising, reaching populated areas,” she said, noting crocodiles from the Limpopo River entering urban areas now underwater.
Guy Taylor, UNICEF’s Chief of Communication in Mozambique, warned from Xai-Xai that flooding is turning unsafe water, disease outbreaks, and malnutrition into severe risks for children. Waterborne diseases and malnutrition can be lethal, he emphasized, noting that even before the floods, four in ten Mozambican children faced chronic malnutrition. The disruption threatens the most vulnerable children, pushing them into danger.
As Mozambique enters its cyclone season, there is a risk of a double crisis. “We can prevent disease, deaths, and irreversible losses to children, but we need to act fast,” Taylor urged. Mozambique is described as a young country, with an average age of 17. “When floods and cyclones hit, it’s the youngest who suffer the most,” he concluded.
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