Mozambique Floods Leave Thousands Displaced

Overview of a southern Mozambique community submerged in flood water. Courtesy of Aljazeera. 

In January 2026, severe flooding displaced thousands of civilians in the southern African nation of Mozambique. Provinces of Gaza and Maputo were hit the hardest, with record levels of rainfall leading to flooding along the Limpopo River. Since the beginning of 2026, the country has been grappling with climate-related struggles and other natural disasters like tropical storms and cyclones. Dangerous weather phenomena such as these cause severe damage to housing and public infrastructure, hindering recovery efforts. However, the floods it has experienced since the start of the year have made it one of the country’s most destructive weather catastrophes, displaying a broader implication of how unavoidable weather phenomena, regional conflict pressures, and infrastructure limits combine to determine national recovery capacity. With these growing concerns, the response and aid from the international community will be imperative in supporting Mozambique’s recovery.   

Mozambique faces security challenges due to its geographic location in addition to various environmental risks. Situated along the coastline of the Indian Ocean, Mozambique is already highly susceptible to torrential rainfall, but with intensifying climate change on the rise and the country’s prior history of flooding, storm surges, and varying life-threatening weather conditions, the country must confront its difficult geographic position and a vulnerable climate state. Flooding has caused extensive damage repeatedly over the years, with one of the most devastating floods having occurred in 2000, claiming roughly 800 lives. Just this past rainy season alone, starting in October of 2025 and predicted to last until April or May, has taken nearly 125 lives and is only projected to worsen as neighboring South African rains intensify. Recurring weather disasters such as these place an economic strain on the country, especially when they devastate key agricultural heartlands where farming and food storage are concentrated, leading to worries regarding resource shortages, food insecurity, and starvation across communities. 

Unfortunately, flooding  isn't the only large-scale issue Mozambique has faced. ISIS-Mozambique (ISIS-M), a terrorist organization locally known as al-Shabaab or Ahlu Sunna wa Jama, has led ongoing violent attacks in the northern region of Mozambique, particularly in the province of Cabo Delgado, since around 2017. Mainly composed of locals, the Islamist militant group has sought to overthrow Mozambique's government and establish an Islamic state through means of civilian attacks and has succeeded in displacing thousands of civilians. Forces like ISIS-M make ongoing issues like the flooding more difficult to respond to, as the country lacks sufficient resources to assist both displaced populations in the northern regions as well as the southern regions impacted by flooding simultaneously. 

These overlapping crises complicate disaster response efforts. Fortunately, varying international actors have come forward. Notably, Brazil, South Africa and the UK deployed relief teams to assist in life-saving operations soon after disaster struck. The UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team was deployed in Maputo and Xai-Xai provinces for immediate on the ground relief, and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) aimed its efforts towards search and rescue, with teams evacuating individuals via air. In addition to the support teams, the World Bank just announced a  $20 million grant to the country for recovery through its Regional Emergency Preparedness and Inclusive Recovery Access Program (REPAIR). The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique has additionally announced it will provide $1 million in support of the flood response as well. 

The flooding in Mozambique not only poses environmental risks on civilians but also imposes immense pressure upon government capacity in terms of recovery response and geographic inequality because of the country’s situation with weather disasters. Many citizens reiterate the concerns of Francisco Fernando Chivindzi, a 67-year old farmer who had to evacuate his home in Hobjana, who says, "The floodwaters reached heights we weren't expecting. We have never experienced this level of flooding in my lifetime." Like thousands of others, Chivindzi’s displacement has forced him to restart his life from scratch after having it washed away by flooding. Looking towards the future, new strides in climate policy, recovery aid investments, and international cooperation could be the solution to shaping resilience and redefining relief efforts in Mozambique.