The Ministry of Finance revealed on Monday, May 11, that the floods and cyclones that struck Mozambique earlier this year have caused economic losses and reconstruction needs estimated at approximately $48.6 billion.
According to Finance Minister Carla Loveira, the extreme events affected approximately 107 million people and destroyed more than 210,000 homes, in addition to causing significant losses in agriculture, food insecurity, disruption of essential services, and a reduction in economic revenue.
Quoted by the Agência de Informaçõa de Moçambique, the minister stated that natural disasters also affected income streams, transportation, and social infrastructure, exacerbating vulnerabilities and increasing pressure on public finances.
Speaking in Maputo during an event titled “Dialogue on Resilience,” the official explained that extreme weather events have created urgent needs for response, recovery, and reconstruction beyond the initially planned budget, with direct impacts on the country’s public debt and fiscal sustainability.
According to Carla Loveira, the recent approval of the 2025–34 National Climate Finance Strategy represents an important milestone in mobilizing resources to make Mozambique’s economy and society more resilient to climate change.
Among other ongoing programs, the official highlighted the Northern Mozambique Local Resilience Project (Moz Norte), funded with $150 million and part of the Northern Mozambique Integrated Resilience Program (PRESINO).
She also mentioned the Northern Crisis Recovery Project (NRSP), funded by the World Bank with $200 million, aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and restoring development programs in affected areas.
Another project mentioned was the regional program for emergency preparedness and inclusive recovery, valued at $37 million, focused on rehabilitating infrastructure and restoring essential services affected by tropical cyclones and floods in 2025 and 2026.
For his part, the World Bank’s Country Director for Mozambique, Fily Sissoko, explained that the floods and inundations recorded earlier this year caused significant damage in a country already affected by multiple crises, warning that by 2050, more than half of Mozambique’s population will live in cities, many of which are located in coastal areas vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The country is considered one of the hardest-hit by climate change, facing recurring floods and tropical cyclones. During the most recent rainy season, between 2024 and 2025, Mozambique was struck by Cyclones Chido, Dikeledi, and Jude, which killed at least 313 people, injured 1,255, and affected more than 1.8 million.
Extreme weather events caused at least 1,016 deaths nationwide between 2019 and 2023, affecting approximately 4.9 million people, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics.
