Mozambique floods

Months of heavy rain, from last December to this March, have caused severe flooding in Mozambique. The state of emergency in the southern African country was made even worse by Cyclone Jokwe in March. About 258,000 people have been affected by the floods.

Charlie Teshera 12, stands waist deep in water on the path to Benijuaque School, Dombe, which has now been closed due to sever flooding across Mozambique.

Children have been badly affected. Many families had to flee their homes and move to higher ground or resettlement camps in central Mozambique, leaving their livelihoods and belongings behind. Children have had to drop out of damaged schools and are vulnerable to disease and abuse in centres for displaced people.

Our focus, now that the worst of the rainfall is over, is to keep providing safe areas for children to be protected and cared for.

"This place was made to help children. Some children here don’t go to school. Some don't have parents to buy them exercise books. This place makes me feel good. I come to learn and play." Says one 12-year-old boy at Nhamatanda Child-friendly space, Sofala Province

How we're responding

A man gives vitamins to children affected by the floods in Mopeia, Mozambique. We've supplied
  • Food, medicines, mosquito nets and cans to carry water to nearly 17,000 affected families.  
  • Nearly 9,000 learning kits, including pens, pencils, books and sports equipment.
  • 3,100 household kits with cooking utensils, plastic sheets, blankets, water purifier and soap.
  • 1,000 rolls of plastic sheeting to families in Mogincual, Angoche and Moma districts who need to build emergency shelter after the cyclone.
We've
  • Set up temporary, equipped learning centres in and around Mopeia, Morrumbala and Tambara with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education.
  • Supported the construction of 50 emergency latrines in Mopeia.
  • Trained community leaders, police and judges to refer vulnerable children in need of help.
  • Young boys play the 'River Game' in a Save the Children child friendly space in Braz Resettlement Centre in a remote area of Mopeia district, Mozambique. The River Game teaches children important life-saving information about floods.Helped families in Mogincual and Angoche to prepare land to plant sweet potatoes.
We're still
  • Working with local communities and other agencies to provide life-saving healthcare and information.
  • Running 25 child-friendly spaces in Morrumbala, Mopeia, Tambara and Caia, helping around 2,500 children play and learn with their friends.  

Read our country director's blog

Chris McIvor, Country Director for Save the Children UK, Mozambique said on his blog for Sky News:  "Last year in April we all drew a collective sigh of relief - the rains had subsided and the rivers had fallen. At the back of my mind I thought: 'Two bad years in a row is impossible.' But in December we began to get worried... This year's flooding is the worst we've seen since 2001." Read more at Sky News

How you can help

  • Call our emergency appeal line and donate: 0800 8148 148
  • Donate online to our Mozambique appeal 
  • Donate items to your local Save the Children shop or volunteer at one.  Whether it's just two hours or a whole day, every minute of your time will help.

How your donations help

  • £10 can buy school supplies to allow help six displaced children get back to school
  • £15 can buy 5 blankets to provide warmth and comfort for a flood-affected family living in an emergency camp
  • £25 can buy a household kit containing: plastic sheeting for shelter; water purifiers and containers to provide drinkable water; and kitchen equipment so families can cook for themselves
  • £125 can completely kit out a tented school in an emergency camps to ensure displaced children don't miss out on their education.