Mozambique is, at present, facing a very deep humanitarian crisis, as heavy rains and continued flooding across the country in January 2026 have severely disrupted food systems, livelihoods, and resilience in vulnerable communities. According to the Mozambique Food Security Cluster: Situation Report – Flooding (January 2026), which was released on 29th January 2026 by the Food Security Cluster (FSC) in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), the impacts on agricultural production as well as access to food are already profound and are expected to worsen in the coming months ahead.
Joining the Commonwealth on November 13th in 1995, Mozambique’s annual rainy season, which typically starts in November and goes through until April, brought long-continuing intense rains which started in December 2025. Leading up to large areas flooding across the central as well as southern provinces, mostly in areas like Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane and Sofala, floodwaters have taken over farmland, destroyed infrastructure and have even displaced more than hundreds and thousands of people. Findings have stated that this flooding is among the worst the country has experienced in recent decades, which is leading up to climate shocks, poverty, and food insecurity.
Agriculture in Mozambique is, most of the time, rain-fed and accounts for a large share of rural employment as well as the local food supply. The early start of fields occurred at a critical time in the planting cycle, destroying seeds, uprooting crops, and preventing timely cultivation. The report from the Food Security Cluster highlights that many household staple crops, such as maize, rice, cassava, and beans, have been lost or damaged due to saturated soil as well as floodwater, which ends up determining household food stocks and farm incomes just as the growing season begins.
The apparent losses in livestock have further disheartened rural households. Animals are vital to smallholder families, providing food, income, and help with farming. Both losses of crops and livestock increase the risks of food insecurity that could last longer, which would leave households with fewer means to cope and recover from this tragic incident.
The rains have forced more than thousands of families to flee their homes, which leaves them seeking shelter in temporary housing centers and higher ground. Flooded roads and damaged bridges have disrupted access to markets, resulting in severe inflation in affected districts. In southern Mozambique alone, tens of thousands have been displaced, and key supply routes remain disrupted. These access constraints challenge humanitarian actors’ efforts to deliver food and essential supplies, particularly to remote areas.
The Food Security Cluster is coordinating with national authorities and UN partners to scale up response operations. Emergency food assistance, distribution of agricultural inputs, and efforts to restore market access are priorities. WFP, in partnership with government and cluster partners, plans targeted food distributions and nutrition support for pregnant women, children, and displaced families most at risk of hunger.
Looking thoroughly ahead, the Food Security Cluster warns that at least the next several months will be highly critical. The lean season, which typically rises to the highest between the months of January and March, will strain household food stocks as well as power in purchasing. With significant agricultural damage already recorded by research and additional losses likely as floodwaters persist or recede ever so slowly, food assistance needs are expected to rise further. Strengthening resilience, restoring livelihoods, and ensuring sustained humanitarian support will be highly essential and vital to prevent large food crises from spiraling into widespread famine conditions.
