Recurrent climate shocks are once again driving large-scale displacement across Mozambique, with severe flooding since the start of the year affecting southern and central regions already weakened by cyclones, storms, and drought. The floods have displaced nearly 392,000 people, compounding an already fragile situation in a country that is also facing conflict-driven displacement in the north, where more than 300,000 people were forced from their homes in the latter half of 2025.
In the worst-affected provinces, including Gaza, Maputo, and parts of central Mozambique, rapidly rising floodwaters left families with little warning, forcing them to flee without essential belongings such as identity documents. Accounts from displaced families describe chaotic escapes to higher ground, during which children were separated from caregivers, while older people and persons with disabilities struggled to evacuate safely.
Preventive measures and a swift, government-led response, coordinated with humanitarian partners and supported by the private sector, helped reduce loss of life despite severe access constraints. Nearly 20,000 people were evacuated by air, water, and road using all available means, demonstrating the importance of early action and coordination in the face of extreme weather events.
Around 100,000 displaced people are currently sheltering in approximately 100 temporary accommodation centres, including schools and public buildings. Severe overcrowding in these sites is increasing protection risks, particularly where privacy, lighting, and basic services are inadequate. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse, while many displaced individuals require urgent psychosocial support after repeated displacement linked to past major floods. Elderly people and persons with disabilities are also struggling to access assistance in facilities not designed to meet their needs.
Many families remain stranded in hard-to-reach areas, cut off by damaged roads and flooded terrain, as washed-out bridges and inaccessible routes continue to hamper humanitarian access. The destruction of critical infrastructure, including water systems, schools, and health facilities, is further disrupting essential services and worsening protection concerns, with some public buildings damaged or repurposed as shelters.
UNHCR, working with partners, is supporting the Government of Mozambique to provide assistance, particularly in Gaza Province, through mobile protection teams and strengthened prevention and response mechanisms, including mental health and psychosocial support. However, the response is under severe strain due to ongoing conflict-related displacement, depleted supplies, funding shortfalls, and the scale of needs. With further rainfall forecast and flood risks remaining high, additional displacement is possible, underscoring the urgent need for international support. UNHCR has indicated it requires $38.2 million in 2026 to sustain life-saving protection and basic services for displaced people and host communities across Mozambique.
