Mozambique is facing a severe humanitarian crisis as flooding poses a significant threat to the lives of children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The agency warns that the situation is rapidly escalating, with heavy rains and rising water levels affecting over 500,000 people, more than half of whom are children.
The southern provinces of Gaza and Maputo have been the hardest hit, with over 50,000 people forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in temporary centers. The disruption to infrastructure has left essential services, including access to clean water, healthcare, and education, in a precarious state. UNICEF’s Chief of Communication in Mozambique, Guy Taylor, expressed concern that children are at a higher risk of disease, interrupted learning, and protection risks, particularly girls and adolescents.
The flooding has also raised concerns about the spread of waterborne diseases and malnutrition. Almost 40% of children in Mozambique were already experiencing chronic malnutrition before the floods, and the renewed disruption to food supplies and health services threatens to push the most vulnerable into a dangerous spiral of acute malnutrition. UNICEF is working with the government to respond to the crisis, with a focus on providing essential supplies, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, to displaced families.
In Sofala Province, UNICEF has already provided WASH supplies to the four most affected districts, enabling the treatment of contaminated water at the household level and reaching at least 13,000 families. The agency is also supporting the government and humanitarian partners in assessing needs and distributing essential supplies to displaced families in Gaza.
The situation has prompted President Daniel Chapo to cancel his scheduled trip to the World Economic Forum, in order to personally oversee the national emergency response. The crisis highlights the need for urgent action to protect the lives of children and families affected by the flooding. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential that the international community provides support to help Mozambique respond to this humanitarian crisis and mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable populations.
