MORE than 600 000 people have been affected by severe flooding in southern and central Mozambique, with Gaza, Maputo and Sofala provinces among the worst hit following heavy and persistent rainfall since mid-December.
Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management says hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, while at least 300 000 homes have been destroyed, with the toll expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Major urban centres including Maputo, Xai-Xai and Chokwe are among the areas that have suffered extensive damage as floodwaters submerged homes, infrastructure, and farmland.
The impact on agriculture has been significant, with officials reporting that at least 180 000 hectares of crops have been destroyed, alongside the loss of more than 150 000 cattle, raising concerns over food security and livelihoods.
Health authorities have also issued warnings over a heightened risk of cholera, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases as access to clean water and sanitation remains compromised in affected communities.
Mozambique, a country of approximately 34 million people on Africa’s south-eastern coast, has been repeatedly affected by extreme weather events in recent years, including devastating cyclones and prolonged droughts, which have left communities increasingly vulnerable.
Authorities say conditions in at least three provinces remain critical as flooding continues to affect several regions.
The disaster has also affected other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with Mozambique and South Africa reported to be the hardest hit by flooding caused by prolonged rainfall.
On January 22, Zimbabwe responded to requests for assistance from Mozambique and Malawi, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa authorising the dispatch of emergency food aid and the deployment of a rescue mission to Mozambique.
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