Seeking safety after floodwaters caused destruction the district of Chókwè
"People could only take what they could carry. The water was coming in very strongly. So even that was only enough to save their lives. We lost almost everything we had."
Chiaquelane, Gaza – “It wasn't easy. We had been told that the waters were coming, so we stayed inside and didn't leave straight away. But when the water started entering our home, it was impossible to stay there any longer. It wasn't easy to leave all our belongings and run,” said Elisa Domingos, in the Chiaquelane accommodation centre, in the district of Chókwè, in Gaza province.
Mozambique is facing an ongoing serious flood emergency following persistent and heavy rainfall since mid-December 2025, coinciding with the peak of the rainy and cyclone season across southern, central and northern provinces. Gaza Province has been particularly affected, with rainfall reaching up to 700 mm in less than seven days in some areas, exacerbated by upstream rainfall in western Mozambique and South Africa and resulting in large-scale flooding along the Limpopo River basin, including Chókwè, Guijá, Chibuto and Xai-Xai districts.
According to the latest data from national authorities, between 9 January and 1 February 2026, floods affected 723,289 people, representing 170,223 families, across multiple provinces. A total of 113 temporary accommodation centres are currently open, hosting around 100,076 displaced people, many of whom remain overcrowded. As the situation continues to evolve, the number of affected people is expected to rise to up to 800,000 in the coming weeks, including approximately 400,000 children.
“People could only take what they could carry. The water was coming in very strongly. So even that was only enough to save their lives. We lost almost everything we had. So, we are grateful for all the help we received here (accommodation centre),” said Elisa.
UNICEF is working with the Government and partners to deliver essential supplies and support basic services for families most affected by the floods, helping protect children and caregivers during this emergency.
The arrival of 88 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies funded by the European Union, together with additional support from the Government of Spain through Spanish Cooperation, has significantly reinforced UNICEF’s response.
These supplies are being used to establish child-friendly spaces to provide safe environments and psychosocial support, set up temporary health clinics and mobile services, expand access to safe water and sanitation, and support nutrition screening and treatment for young children.
Despite these efforts, needs continue to outpace available resources.
UNICEF Mozambique is appealing for US$34 million to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of children and families affected by the floods over the first six months of the response. This funding will enable UNICEF to reach 450,000 people, including 225,000 children, with life-saving services.
You can help children receive urgent essentials — including emergency nutrition, safe water, and the protection services that keep them healthy and safe — by donating at the following link: https://help.unicef.org/esaro/mozambique-emergency-flood-appeal.
