The Mozambican government on Friday appealed for urgent international humanitarian assistance as severe flooding, described as the worst in decades, displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed key infrastructure across the country.
The National Disaster Management Institute (INGD) said flooding has affected large parts of southern and central Mozambique following weeks of torrential rain, displacing around 600,000 people in the provinces of Gaza, Zambezia, Inhambane and Sofala. Authorities estimate that nearly 40% of Gaza Province is currently underwater.
Southern Africa has been battered by prolonged heavy rainfall in recent weeks, triggering widespread floods that have killed dozens across the region.
INGD Deputy Chairperson Gabriel Monteiro said Mozambique’s existing resources were inadequate to cope with the scale of the disaster.
“Our capacity is not sufficient to respond to an emergency of this magnitude,” Monteiro told reporters. “Although international partners have begun to provide assistance, the extent of the flooding exceeds all contingency plans. We are calling on the global community for urgent humanitarian support to mitigate the devastating impact.”
Authorities confirmed at least 13 deaths over the past two weeks, while dozens of people remain missing.
UNICEF’s resident representative in Mozambique, Mary Louise Eagleton, warned that the death toll could rise, particularly among children.
“We fear that many of those swept away by floodwaters are children,” Eagleton told Anadolu. “Efforts are underway to establish accurate casualty figures.”
South Africa and the United Kingdom have deployed military personnel to support search-and-rescue operations, authorities said.
Displaced communities are facing acute shortages of shelter, clean water, sanitation and food, Monteiro added, as international partners continue to mobilize resources alongside INGD.
Mozambique previously suffered devastating floods in 2000 that left around 1,000 people dead.