Highlights

Following torrential rains over most of southern Africa, particularly South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, the humanitarian situation in Mozambique has deteriorated over the past two days due to the combined effect of consecutive days of exceptionally heavy rainfall and excessive runoff from neighbouring countries, affecting several provinces, with Gaza and Maputo among the most impacted. Flooding has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread displacement. The Government of Mozambique has declared a red alert across the entire national territory.

As of 17 January, national authorities report at least 103 fatalities, 86 injured persons, more than 4,000 houses destroyed, and approximately 173,000 people potentially at risk. Substantial damage to infrastructure and agricultural land has also been reported, with potentially severe implications for health and food security, while the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) has highlighted that around 100 health facilities are at risk.

This emergency exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities, as communities are still recovering from successive natural disasters earlier in 2025, including Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi. A concurrent cholera outbreak further heightens health risks for displaced populations and disrupts the provision of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services.

• 643,331 Total people affected
• 164,049 Women of reproductive age
• 11,532 Estimated pregnant women
• 8,202 People targeted w/ SRH services
• 3,500 People targeted w/ GBV programmes