Overview of the situation
More than a million people across eight provinces of Mozambique – Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo,
Sofala, Tete and Zambezia are bearing the brunt of the compounding effect of cholera, floods and cyclone Freddy. Freddy displaced over 184,000 people, who have sought shelter in accommodation centers across the affected districts. Cyclone Freddy destroyed over 129,000 homes, leaving more than 640,000 people homeless. The impact of the multiple crises, on top of the emergency in northern Mozambique, means that every province of Mozambique is affected.
Tropical cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting and most energetic tropical cyclone on record, hit Mozambique twice, on 24 February and 11 March, with destructive winds and extreme rainfall. Freddy accumulated cyclone energy (index used to measure the energy released by a tropical cyclone) the equivalent of an average full North Atlantic hurricane season. Rainfall over the areas crossed by cyclone Freddy were on average 200 to 300 mm a day and reaching as high as 600 mm in some areas. An average rainy season across different areas of Mozambique’s range between 600 and 1,000 mm a day over six months.
Freddy’s second landfall exacerbated flooding from Freddy’s first passage and from heavy seasonal rains as rivers and the ground were already full and saturated. Southern Mozambique received more than a year's worth of rainfall in February. The storm first made landfall in southern Mozambique on 24 February.
It spent several days tracking over Mozambique and Zimbabwe, bringing heavy rains and flooding. It then looped back towards the Mozambique Channel and picked up energy from the warm waters and moved towards the south- western coast of Madagascar and then back towards Mozambique, where it entered again on 11 March. Accurate early warnings by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and coordinated disaster management on the ground prevented even greater loss of life. The anticipated magnitude of the cyclone led the Government of Mozambique to declare a red alert on 21 February in order to enable processes to respond to the emergency to be expedited and simplified. Thousands of people were moved to accommodation centres as precaution while rescue teams, food supplies, tents, and boats were put in place to support the aftermath.
The storm generated significant damage to infrastructure, including houses, schools, and health facilities. Water systems, sanitation facilities as well as water supply infrastructures and latrines in communities and institutions were flooded and damaged. Water sources were contaminated. A key road linking northern and southern Mozambique along with many feeder roads were temporarily cut off depriving populations from much needed health care, social services and affecting trade.
Flooding in southern Mozambique, Cyclone Freddy and associated flooding had a massive humanirtarian and socio-economic impact as 391,000 hectares of land were affected (INGD). Given the land tenure pattern, with average landholdings of one hectare this could mean that more than a million people are affected by crop losses. The significant crop loss right before the main harvest, has affected areas already highly food insecure as per the latest IPC.
There are 3.15 million people in IPC 3 and above in Mozambique. Flooding has had a significant impact in southern Mozambique, where there are two planting seasons including a short planting season in April-May.
These conditions accelerated a cholera outbreak that had been growing since September 2022. The first case of cholera was reported from Lago district in Niassa province on14 September 2022. As of 29 March, there are more than 19,000 cases. Cholera has affected 38 districts and eight provinces out of a total of 161 districts and 11 provinces. The cholera outbreak in Mozambique has been categorized by WHO as a multi-region Grade 3 Public Health Emergency, requiring a major WHO response. The Grade 3 categorization – the highest level within WHO’s grading system – was made considering the scale of the outbreak, the potential for further international spread, the rapidity of spread, and the lack of adequate response capacity. Low levels of access to safe drinking water and sanitation and hygiene facilities and a fragile surveillance system, are contributing to conditions that drive the spread of the cholera throughout the first quarter of the year.
The HRP Addendum takes into consideration that humanitarian crises have been affecting differently women and girls as well as men and boys of different age groups and abilities. Humanitarian organisations will guarantee that all assistance is designed to be accessible for all and that the voice of all affected populations is heard and considered before, during and after the interventions.