Half a million people have been affected in Mozambique Flood

“More than half a million people have been affected by recent floods in southern and central provinces,” a UN spokesperson said, as heavy rains continue to batter Mozambique and disrupt transport, health services and supply lines.

Briefing reporters in New York on 19 Jan, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said flooding since mid-December has hit Gaza, Maputo and Sofala provinces particularly hard, with authorities reporting that more than 510,000 people have been affected so far.

Haq said the floods have caused major damage to health facilities and roads, with nearly 5,000 kilometres of roads damaged across nine provinces. The main road linking the capital, Maputo, to the rest of the country is now inaccessible, Haq added, significantly disrupting supply chains. Authorities have also reported the loss of more than 27,000 heads of livestock.