Mozambique Floods Reach Crisis Levels, UN Warns. Maputo, Mozambique — After weeks of relentless heavy rains, Mozambique’s Maputo province is facing a rapidly escalating emergency, according to the United Nations.
The severe flooding has already claimed over 100 lives and affected more than half a million people across the country.
In Maputo province alone, over 36,000 individuals are struggling with the aftermath of the floods. Rosita Augusto, a resident of the province, describes the dire situation: “I am scared to cross here. We want to go home.
Since the day before yesterday, we have been stuck on this side. We want to cross to get home. We have decided to take a risk.”.
The flooding has also destroyed thousands of kilometers of roads, hindering aid distribution efforts. Manuel Tule, the Governor of Maputo Province, acknowledges the challenges: “We are working, but we don’t have all the data about what is happening now. This moment we are making plans to go to the affected areas where there are people waiting to be rescued.
We are still working.”
The situation is further complicated by the approaching cyclone season, which could exacerbate the crisis. UNICEF spokesman Guy Taylor warns: “The flooding that we’re seeing is not just destroying homes, schools, health centres and roads.
It’s really turning unsafe water, disease outbreaks and malnutrition into a deadly threat for children.
The fact that Mozambique is now entering into its annual cyclone season creates the risk of a double crisis.”Opposition leaders have criticized the government for failing to prepare adequately for such natural disasters.
Venâncio Mondlane, president of ANAMOLA Party, stated: “In the past 50 years since independence, Mozambique has received 5 billion USD for climate change and urban cleaning.
And with this money, practically all the social infrastructure that was built is of low quality — bridges that will be destroyed in the next rainy season, bad roads.
As soon as the floods disappear, we must have a serious investment plan.
” Further details are expected as the situation develops.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 3*
