The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates it will mobilize €23.5 million to provide urgent assistance to 620,000 people affected by floods that devastated vast agricultural areas in the country, especially in the southern and central regions, as reported by Lusa.
According to a report released on Monday (16), weeks of heavy rains and widespread flooding, mainly during the month of January, severely affected lives, livelihoods, and essential infrastructure, exacerbating the vulnerability of communities dependent on agriculture.
The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) estimates that more than 852,000 people have been affected since the beginning of the current rainy season in October, a figure that could reach 1.1 million people as the situation evolves. The January floods alone impacted nearly 725,000 people, causing at least 27 deaths. For the entire rainy season, which runs until April, the number of confirmed deaths stands at 215.
The provinces of Gaza, Maputo, and Sofala are among the hardest hit, with Gaza accounting for about 75% of the total affected population. The impact on the agricultural sector is described as catastrophic: approximately 288,000 hectares of crops were destroyed, 531,000 head of cattle were lost, and 249 artisanal fishing boats and 572 fish farming tanks were swept away by the waters. It is estimated that more than 365,000 farmers were directly affected.
The floods coincided with the main agricultural season, which runs from November to April, a period when most rainfed crops had already been planted and were at critical stages of growth. With harvests scheduled to begin between March and April, the destruction of crops threatens to compromise the immediate availability of food and the seasonal income of rural families.
According to the FAO, the €23.5 million will support affected families in restoring food production and protecting their livelihoods based on agri-food systems.
The intervention includes the provision of seeds and agricultural tools for immediate replanting, support for short-cycle vegetable production, animal health campaigns to prevent post-flood diseases, and measures aimed at the recovery of artisanal fisheries, with the replacement of essential equipment and inputs.
The organization stresses that the risk remains high, given that the rainy and cyclone season lasts until April, increasing the likelihood of further flooding and additional impacts on already fragile communities.
