Floods that have battered Mozambique in recent months have left a trail of destruction on an unprecedented scale, affecting more than one million people, with children accounting for nearly half of those impacted.
The crisis has been described by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a “deeply child-focused” emergency, exposing critical weaknesses in water, sanitation, healthcare and child protection systems. Already vulnerable communities are now facing heightened risks of malnutrition, outbreaks of infectious diseases and prolonged disruptions to education.
Speaking to our publication, UNICEF Emergency Specialist Cláudio Julaia said the scale of the disaster is particularly alarming for children, who are disproportionately affected in humanitarian crises.
“This is not just a climate shock, it is a crisis that is fundamentally reshaping the lives of children,” Julaia said. “We are seeing increased risks of disease, rising levels of malnutrition, and thousands of children cut off from essential services like schooling and healthcare.”
He warned that without sustained intervention, the long-term consequences could be severe, with setbacks to child development and wellbeing likely to persist well beyond the immediate emergency.
–ChannelAfrica–
