Maputo, January 24, 2026 – The Mozambican government issued an urgent appeal on Friday for accelerated international humanitarian support to address catastrophic flooding that has displaced more than 600,000 people and submerged vast areas of the country, marking one of the most severe natural disasters in recent decades. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) described the situation as overwhelming national capacities, with weeks of relentless heavy rainfall triggering widespread inundation across southern and central regions.
Gabriel Monteiro, Deputy Chairperson of INGD, briefed reporters in Maputo, stating that the scale of the flooding far exceeds existing contingency plans and resources. "The country's resources were insufficient to respond to a disaster of this scale," Monteiro said. "So far, we have partners from other parts of the world who have come to help us, but the size of this phenomenon exceeds all our plans. We are therefore appealing for humanitarian support from across the world to contain the devastating effects of the floods."
Official figures from INGD and corroborated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) indicate that over 600,000 people have been affected across key provinces, including Gaza, Zambezia (also spelled Zambézia), Inhambane, Sofala, and Maputo. In Gaza Province—the hardest-hit—approximately 40% of the territory remains submerged, with entire communities isolated by overflowing rivers such as the Limpopo and Incomati. Floodwaters have destroyed homes, roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities, while cutting off access to clean water, sanitation, and food supplies for displaced populations.
The crisis stems from prolonged heavy rainfall since mid-December 2025, exacerbated by the ongoing La Niña-influenced wet season and the approach of Mozambique's cyclone period. Rivers have burst their banks, leading to flash floods and prolonged inundation. The floods form part of a broader regional emergency affecting Southern Africa, with neighboring countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe also reporting significant impacts, including hundreds of deaths and widespread displacement across the subcontinent.
Authorities have confirmed at least 13 direct fatalities in Mozambique over the past two weeks, with scores more reported missing. Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF's Resident Representative in Mozambique, speaking to international media including Anadolu Agency, warned that the death toll is likely to rise as recovery efforts uncover more victims. "We also expect to see that a large proportion of those who have washed away are children," Eagleton noted. "We are therefore working to establish the exact number of those dead." UNICEF and other agencies highlight heightened risks for vulnerable groups, particularly children—who constitute a significant portion of the displaced—with threats of disease outbreaks (including cholera and malaria), malnutrition, and protection concerns in overcrowded temporary shelters.
Displaced families are enduring acute shortages of basic necessities. Monteiro emphasized that affected communities face critical deficits in shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and food. More than 73,000 people are currently housed in over 70 temporary accommodation centers nationwide, according to INGD data, though many remain in informal settlements or with host families. The destruction of infrastructure has compounded challenges, isolating remote areas and hindering aid delivery.
In response, international partners have begun mobilizing. The IOM is scaling up emergency operations, providing life-saving assistance, displacement tracking, and coordination support to INGD. UNICEF, the Mozambique Red Cross, Plan International, and others are distributing relief items, deploying mobile health and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) teams, and pre-positioning supplies. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued flash updates detailing the evolving situation, noting that while government-led early warning and evacuation measures are in place, funding and stocks remain inadequate for prolonged needs.
Military support has also arrived to bolster rescue and relief operations. The South African government deployed troops to assist with search-and-rescue efforts, leveraging air and ground assets in cross-border coordination. The United Kingdom has sent search-and-rescue teams to Mozambique, focusing on life-saving interventions in flooded zones. These deployments reflect growing regional and international solidarity amid warnings that the disaster could surpass the devastating 2000 floods, which killed around 1,000 people and displaced millions in Mozambique alone.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights expressed deep concern in a January 23 statement, noting over 513,000 people affected (with more than half children) and calling for enhanced protection of vulnerable populations, including against exploitation in displacement settings. The Commission urged regional and global actors to mobilize resources for water, sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, and education access in reception centers.
Experts warn that the situation remains fluid, with forecasts indicating continued heavy rainfall and potential cyclone formation. INGD has activated mobile Emergency Operation Centers, particularly in Gaza, and is coordinating multisectoral responses. However, Monteiro stressed the need for immediate escalation in aid, including logistical support, civil engineering expertise, and additional search-and-rescue capabilities.
This disaster underscores Mozambique's vulnerability to climate extremes, despite progress in early warning systems since the 2000 floods. As the rainy season continues—only halfway through—authorities and partners are urging sustained vigilance and rapid resource inflows to prevent further loss of life and livelihoods. For millions of Mozambicans already grappling with poverty and post-cyclone recovery from previous years, the floods represent a profound setback, demanding a swift, coordinated global response to avert a larger humanitarian catastrophe.
