The Companhia Moçambicana de Hidrocarbonetos (CMH) has contributed 500,000 meticais (approximately 6,688 euros) to the office of First Lady Gueta Chapo to assist victims of the severe flooding and storms that have devastated parts of the country.
During the presentation of the donation, Joaquim Veríssimo, representing CMH, stated that the initiative is intended to bolster the solidarity efforts spearheaded by the First Lady’s office. He praised the ongoing, hands-on commitment demonstrated by Gueta Chapo in supporting vulnerable communities, particularly women, children, young people, and individuals with disabilities who have been most heavily impacted by recent natural calamities.
Mozambique remains one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, enduring a cyclical pattern of floods and tropical cyclones throughout the rainy season, which lasts from October to April.
The current season has proven particularly catastrophic, with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) reporting 311 fatalities since October. The scale of the humanitarian crisis is immense, as over 1.07 million people have been impacted by the weather events.
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The physical destruction includes more than 36,000 homes that have been either partially or totally destroyed, along with over 209,000 homes that have been inundated. Furthermore, the country’s health infrastructure has been strained, with 304 health facilities affected in less than six months.
The agricultural impact of these disasters presents a significant threat to food security and local livelihoods. Data from the INGD indicates that 320,426 hectares of farmland have been lost, disrupting the lives of 373,241 farmers, while the loss of livestock has been staggering, with 531,657 animals, including cattle, goats, and poultry, confirmed dead.
Even as the current rainy season draws to a close, the cumulative effect of these disasters—compounded by the recent wave of flooding in the southern regions—continues to present a daunting recovery challenge. Private sector support, such as this donation from the CMH, is considered a vital component of the national strategy to address the widespread destruction and provide immediate relief to displaced and affected populations.
