Lift up cyclone-devastated families in Mozambique

Widespread Flooding Across Mozambique 

People in Mozambique have been grappling with severe flooding triggered by heavy rains that have persisted since December last year. Although the country is accustomed to facing cyclones and flood-related disasters almost every year, the unusually prolonged rainfall this season has caused extensive damage, reaching even communities that are rarely affected by flooding.

Providing Essential Hygiene Supplies in Sofala Province 

By late January this year, the floods had affected approximately 590,000 people nationwide, with around 68,000 forced to leave their homes. In response, Peace Winds conducted an assessment of the situation in Sofala Province.

Traveling through muddy roads and occasionally getting vehicles stuck along the way, the team visited evacuation sites where food assistance had arrived but remained insufficient. Many displaced families were surviving on just one meal a day. There were not enough tents to accommodate everyone, forcing many men to sleep outdoors.

Water shortages were also severe, as large numbers of displaced people had gathered in areas where wells had been damaged by the floods. The lack of adequate sanitation facilities raised concerns about deteriorating hygiene conditions, while shortages of mosquito nets increased the risk of malaria.

To address these urgent needs, Peace Winds distributed water purification tablets, buckets for safe water storage, mosquito nets, and soap to 160 households at evacuation sites where hygiene supplies were in short supply.

Recipients expressed their gratitude, saying, “We didn’t have any containers to store drinking water, so the buckets are a great help,” and “We were worried about malaria, so receiving mosquito nets gives us peace of mind.”

Delivering Food Assistance and Hope in Gaza Province 

It was while we were conducting assessments in Gaza Province — where nearly 90 percent of the population was affected by the floods — that we received generous donations from volunteer groups and elementary schools in Ehime Prefecture, as well as organizations in Shiga Prefecture in Japan, through a Japanese NGO, the Shikoku Global Network.

With this support, Peace Winds provided food assistance at four temporary evacuation sites. Food distributions from UN agencies and local authorities were limited, and many displaced people were showing signs of nutritional imbalance as well as physical and emotional exhaustion.

To help address these needs, we distributed chicken, canned fish, and vegetables to supplement deficiencies in protein and vitamins, along with seasonings so that families could prepare meals with familiar flavors. The food was stored in freezers at nearby homes and facilities and was then served to displaced families over several days.

One mother of four shared her appreciation:

“Since arriving at the evacuation site, we had been eating mostly rice and beans. Being able to eat meat and fish again for the first time in a long while means so much to us.”

Standing With Communities on the Road to Recovery

At the same time, the woman shared another concern:

“Our home was severely damaged by the floods, and we have no idea how we will rebuild it. I don’t know what the future holds for us, and that uncertainty is frightening.”

Our assessment revealed that the floods had destroyed not only homes, wells, and latrines, but also crops, livestock, and stored food supplies, including rice reserves that families depended on for the months ahead. In some areas, roads had been washed away, leaving communities accessible only by boat.

For many families, the disaster has not only disrupted their daily lives but has also jeopardized their ability to secure food throughout the coming year.

At a time like this, what Mozambique needs most is not only material assistance, but also a clear message: “You are not forgotten. We stand with you.” Continuing to deliver that message through sustained support is what is needed now more than ever.

*This emergency response was made possible through grants from the Japan Platform , the Shikoku Global Network, and other Japanese partners — and through your generous support.

Following the devastating floods in Mozambique, Peace Winds has been active on the ground since late January, delivering essential aid and conducting impact assessments. We have now shifted our operations from Sofala Province to Gaza Province to address emerging needs. Our emergency team in Xai-Xai reports severe infrastructure damage and a growing humanitarian crisis for those forced to flee their homes.

Severe Damage Caused by the Limpopo River’s Overflow

This flood was triggered by the overflow of the Limpopo River, which flows from South Africa through Mozambique to the sea. Cutting through Gaza Province, the river’s mid-January breach unleashed extensive, devastating damage across a wide area.

Even in Xai-Xai, low-lying zones bordering the Limpopo River remain underwater more than a month after the disaster, stalling the return of displaced residents. In the Baixa district, where floodwaters once peaked at two meters, vast stretches of land endure as stagnant marshland or open water.

Displaced Populations Pushed to the Brink by Uncertainty

The Scale of the Crisis: Tracking Needs in Real-Time

At the height of the floods, approximately 90,000 people sought refuge in temporary shelters across Gaza Province. To ensure our support is as precise as the need is vast, we have been meticulously documenting the living conditions of those displaced, tracking the subtle, daily shifts at each site.

The Toll of Deprivation

For over a month, many have survived on a monotonous diet of rice, nshima, and beans. This nutritional deficiency, coupled with the strain of displacement, has led to a profound sense of physical and mental exhaustion. At the Patrice Lumumba Shelter—a middle school converted into a refuge—the reality is stark: roughly 50 women and children are crowded into a single classroom to sleep. In an environment where even basic cleaning supplies are a luxury, relief workers have been forced to innovate, fashioning makeshift brooms from rolled-up plastic bags to maintain a semblance of hygiene.

The March Deadline: A Precarious Future

With schools across the province scheduled to reopen in early March, those currently taking refuge in classrooms face an imminent and forced relocation. Yet, for many, there is simply nowhere to go. Resettlement sites remain unconfirmed, and with floodwaters still encroaching on their original homes, the risk of renewed flooding is a constant shadow. While a move to higher ground is being discussed, the lack of a clear destination has left families in a state of profound anxiety, bracing for a second displacement with no end in sight.

Chokwe: 88% of Lives Upended

Chokwe: The Epicenter of a Mounting Humanitarian Crisis

Approximately two hours from Xai-Xai, Chokwe District bears the heaviest scars of the disaster. Here, the scale of devastation is near-total, with 88% of the population—roughly 170,000 people—impacted.

The arrival of a cyclone late last week brought a new wave of terror. While the storm spared the region from major structural damage, it forced a frantic mass movement to makeshift "Operation" shelters. These emergency sites, however, are catastrophically underserviced. With no latrines and a severe shortage of indoor space, hundreds are forced to sleep in the open air and relieve themselves outdoors. Amidst these primitive conditions, the threat of an infectious disease outbreak looms larger every day.

Fraying Resilience: Meeting the Surging Needs of the Long-Term Displaced

The Deepening Crisis: Why Time is Not a Cure

Even as the initial floodwaters recede, the situation in the affected areas is far from "stabilized." In fact, prolonged displacement has only intensified the struggle for survival. Food reserves at many shelters are nearly exhausted, and the lack of basic essentials—soap, laundry detergent, and sanitary napkins—is creating a secondary crisis of health and dignity.

The path to recovery is steep. Beyond the immediate need for blankets and mosquito nets, families face the daunting task of reclaiming mud-caked homes and devastated fields. To ensure that farmers can restart their lives and families can return to safety, Peace Winds remains on the ground, providing steadfast support. We transition now from emergency rescue to the long road of rebuilding, and we kindly ask for your continued compassion and support to make this recovery possible.