Flooding in Mozambique

A house submerged with water from the Save river. Photo: Cesario David/Intermon Oxfam

Extensive flooding

The flooding experienced in Mozambique in recent weeks has exceeded last year's levels. For the second time in less than a year, tens of thousands of people have seen their crops destroyed and been forced to leave their homes due to rising water levels.

Photo: Cesario David/Intermon Oxfam

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Flooding in Mozambique 2008

Information about Oxfam's response

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People waiting to be rescued. Photo: José Mucote/Ajuago

Many stranded

A family perch their child and some possesions on top of a makeshift structure while waiting to be rescued.

This family were rescued after an alert was raised on a community radio. This radio is managed by Oxfam's local partner NGO Ajuago as part of our disaster risk reduction programme.

Photo: José Mucote/Ajuago

Rescue operation

A group of people are rescued from their flooded homes near the Save river. Around 12,175 in this area have managed to reach refugee centres and resettlement camps.

Photo: José Mucote/Ajuago

Resettlement centre KM 18, Nova Manbone, Govuro. Photo: Ana Damasio/ ntermon Oxfam

Resettlement centres

A total of 36,000 people in the delta region of the river Save have been affected by the floods. Here, resettlement centre KM 18 in Govuro is playing host to 679 families.

Photo: Ana Damasio/Intermon Oxfam

A dry place to stay

Xena Celestina arrived at the resettlement camp in Chiburiburi a week ago. She was forced to leave her home and crops with her eight children because of rising water levels. They plan to stay at Chiburiburi for a few months until the water recedes enough for them to return to their land.

Photo: Ana Damasio/Intermon Oxfam

A woman walks through flood water to get to a water pump. Photo: Nahuel Arenas/Intermon Oxfam

Accessing drinking water

Floodwater has inundated the roads around some of the resettlement camps. The woman in this photo is carrying a bucket with drinking water from Amambos on her head. She has to cross a road that has been flooded by a river in order to reach the water pump.

Photo: Nahuel Arenas/Intermon Oxfam

Women collect water from a tapstand in a resettlement centre in Govuro. Photo: Ana Damasio/Intermon Oxfam

Water and sanitation

Other familes are more fortunate, and able to reach the tapstands dispensing clean water without wading through floodwater.

Oxfam is currently gearing up to ensure access to clean water and sanitation facilities in the districts of Mutatara, Marromeu, Machanga, Govuro, and Tambara.

Photo: Ana Damasio/Intermon Oxfam