Flooding in southern Mozambique
Peace Parks Foundation has been responding to severe flooding affecting communities around Limpopo, Banhine and Zinave national parks, following the Mozambican Government’s declaration of a state of emergency and formal call for assistance.
While floodwaters have mostly receded, some villages remain cut off in areas still experiencing very high water levels. Current estimates indicate that approximately 37,000 people around Limpopo, Banhine and Zinave may be severely impacted. In several of the more remote regions surrounding these parks where we operate, Peace Parks teams still remain the only operational presence on the ground, working in coordination with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), the National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC), local authorities, Karingani and other private sector partners and donors. Your support has ensured that assistance continues to reach affected communities.
The immediate concern remains access to food and safe drinking water. With most families having lost their crops, the risk of prolonged food insecurity is significant. In the months ahead, the potential for cholera and malaria outbreaks is anticipated if recovery efforts stall.
Response progress – by the numbers
Despite damaged infrastructure, limited fuel availability and ongoing access constraints, relief operations continue to scale.
To date, 29 isolated villages have been reached, representing just over half of identified affected communities within our immediate operational area, with additional villages becoming accessible as floodwaters recede.
- 12 evacuation flights
- 29 isolated villages reached, bringing food and medical supplies to 2,853 families
- 77.25 flight hours logged
- 21 tonnes of food and emergency supplies delivered
- 92 tonnes of dry food secured and ready for distribution as access allows
- 80 tonnes of seed ordered for urgent replanting of destroyed crops, with delivery imminent to enable planting within the remaining window for this year’s harvest
A tropical storm over the Mozambique Channel was forecast to make landfall on Friday 13 February, bringing the possibility of further adverse weather, particularly for Zinave National Park and potentially Limpopo National Park. Additional rainfall could delay access, disrupt distribution and narrow the already limited planting window.
Our immediate objective remains to stabilise affected communities with food and safe drinking water, initiate seed distribution within the short remaining planting period, and prevent both a prolonged humanitarian crisis and knock-on ecological pressures in and around these protected areas.
The response is ongoing, and needs remain urgent. Continued support will allow operations to expand in the critical weeks ahead and sustain recovery efforts in the months that follow.
Donate here to sustain the response
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For weekly updates:
www.peaceparks.org/flood-emergency-mozambique
