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Caritas Mozambique Official Appeals for International Support amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis following Deadly Floods

Credit: Caritas Mozambique
João Vissesse

By João Vissesse

Maputo, 30 January, 2026 / 10:33 pm (ACI Africa).

Mozambique is grappling with a worsening humanitarian emergency after deadly floods displaced more than 600,000 people across the country, prompting a renewed appeal for international support from Caritas Mozambique.

In a Thursday, January 29 interview with ACI Africa, the Secretary General of Caritas Mozambique described the situation as “extremely complex and challenging,” explaining that while floodwaters are receding in some areas, water levels continue to rise in others, leaving thousands of families in prolonged vulnerability.

“Some rivers are showing a reduction in flow, allowing partial returns of displaced populations, while others continue to rise, forcing preventive evacuations,” Santos Pedro Gotine told ACI Africa, warning that insecurity remains high in many affected communities.

Caritas Mozambique, he noted, is prioritizing the provision of food, particularly for children, and access to safe drinking water. 

However, the Caritas official acknowledged that the magnitude of the crisis far exceeds the organization’s current capacity. 

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“The scale of this emergency goes beyond the resources available to us, and additional support from national and international partners is urgently needed,” Gotine said.

Although improved conditions have enabled some families to return home, he cautioned that the returns are fraught with challenges. 

Outside transit centers, families no longer receive regular food assistance, while many homes and essential infrastructure have been destroyed, deepening their vulnerability.

“During their stay in transit centers, families had access to food provided by the Government and humanitarian organizations, including Caritas. Once they return home, the lack of coordinated food distribution becomes a critical obstacle to their survival,” he explained.

Caritas Mozambique is already providing assistance using locally mobilized resources, but access to some areas remains difficult. 

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Gotine cited the Diocese of Xai-Xai, which is currently cut off from Maputo, making it difficult to procure food, the most urgent need in transit centers.

Accurate data on the number of affected people remains limited, as official figures are still being compiled. 

Nonetheless, Gotine said, more than 600,000 people have been displaced to safer areas, with over 1,000 individuals rescued through evacuation and search operations.

Food remains the most urgent need, followed by clean drinking water, hygiene kits, and emergency shelter. 

Gotine noted that many schools converted into transit centers are overcrowded, making tents and alternative shelter solutions a critical necessity.

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He said Caritas Mozambique has shared the situation with its partners, including Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Africa. 

A rapid response proposal has also been uploaded to the Baobab platform, allowing the wider Caritas Confederation to follow developments and provide support.

Despite ongoing efforts, Caritas Mozambique continues to face staff shortages, limiting its capacity to respond swiftly to the crisis. 

Gotine emphasized that renewed international solidarity is essential to prevent the humanitarian situation from deteriorating further and to ensure sustained support for affected communities.

Following the heavy rains that started in December last year, extending into January this year, reports indicate that mid-January flooding caused rivers to overflow in southern and central Mozambique, greatly affecting the populace.

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On January 28, Pope Leo XIV expressed his spiritual solidarity with the victims of floods in Mozambique.

“Dear sisters and brothers, my thoughts go out above all to the beloved people of Mozambique, struck by devastating floods. As I pray for the victims, I express my closeness to the displaced and to all those who offer them support. May the Lord help you and bless you!” the Pope said during his weekly Wednesday General Audience at the Vatican.

João Vissesse

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.