Catastrophic flooding across southern and central Mozambique has killed more than 150 people and displaced nearly 400,000 since January 2026, with over 800,000 people affected in what has become one of the country's worst flood disasters in recent memory.
Devastating Scale
Weeks of torrential rainfall beginning in early January caused rivers to overflow across Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane, Sofala, and Zambézia provinces. The government declared a nationwide Red Alert on January 16 as floodwaters engulfed entire communities. Gaza Province has borne the brunt of the disaster, accounting for approximately 75 percent of the total affected population. More than 4,000 homes have been partially or completely destroyed, along with critical health facilities, water systems, and roads.
At peak displacement, over 100,000 people were sheltered in approximately 100 accommodation centers, with conditions deteriorating as resources run thin and disease risks mount.
Humanitarian Response
The Relief Directory is tracking the international response to this crisis, with a humanitarian appeal of $187 million to assist approximately 600,000 people in urgent need.
American Red Cross has contributed $300,000 to the IFRC Emergency Appeal and is supporting the Mozambique Red Cross in evacuating at-risk communities, delivering emergency relief, and providing health and water, sanitation, and hygiene support.
Save the Children is using boats to relocate families most at risk and to reach scores of people stranded in inaccessible areas cut off by floodwaters.
CARE is leading a multi-partner response providing food, shelter, and protection services to displaced families across the hardest-hit provinces.
Direct Relief is coordinating with partners on the ground to provide emergency medical supplies and address growing health risks including waterborne diseases and malnutrition.
Ongoing Threat
The crisis remains active as continued rains threaten further flooding in already-devastated areas. Access challenges, funding shortfalls, and the enormous scale of needs are limiting the ability of humanitarian partners to stabilize overcrowded displacement sites and reach those still in danger.
Visit our Mozambique Floods disaster page for a full list of responding organizations and ways to help.
