The approach of a new tropical depression to the Mozambique Channel has put the country on high alert and heightened vigilance at a time when vast areas are already flooded.

The National Institute of Meteorology issued successive yellow warnings, forecasting moderate to heavy rain, wind gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour, and sea conditions capable of generating waves up to four meters high, especially in the coastal provinces of Maputo, Gaza, and Inhambane.

These phenomena occur in a context of saturated soils and rivers above safe levels, increasing the risk of further flash floods. The persistence of rainfall has forced the opening of dam gates, including in neighboring countries, due to a lack of retention capacity, which contributes to the worsening of floods downstream.

This chain reaction demonstrates the regional interdependence of water systems and the difficulty of managing them during periods of extreme rainfall. Authorities warn that weather conditions severely affect rescue operations, which often rely on aerial resources, whose capabilities are limited by strong winds and reduced visibility.

The main roads in the south of the country remain severely affected. National Road number 1, a fundamental link between the capital and the rest of the territory, remains impassable in several sections, compromising the circulation of essential goods and the access of humanitarian teams to the most isolated areas.

National Highway 2 faces similar problems, exacerbating the isolation of already vulnerable communities. This blockage of land connections transforms this natural phenomenon into a logistical crisis of enormous proportions.

The human toll of the floods is currently being assessed and continues to be updated as the waters recede in some areas, revealing the true extent of the damage. According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, the death toll has risen to 114, with six people missing and 99 injured.

In total, 677.831 people have already been affected, the equivalent of 141.818 families whose routines were abruptly disrupted. More than 11,000 homes were partially destroyed and almost 5,000 were completely razed, forcing the displacement of tens of thousands of people.

Of the 83 shelters opened since the start of the rainy season, 72 remain active, housing approximately 88.500 people, many of whom were preventively evacuated from at-risk areas. These centers frequently operate above capacity, creating additional challenges in terms of sanitation, public health, and human dignity.

Social infrastructure also suffered significant damage. Dozens of health units and hundreds of schools were affected, compromising access to healthcare and education in regions already lacking these services.

Bridges, aqueducts, and thousands of kilometers of roads were damaged, further fragmenting the territory and hindering a coordinated emergency response. The government estimates that about 40% of Gaza province is submerged, with several districts in Maputo province also flooded.

Among the most worrying aspects of this crisis is the disproportionate impact on children. The United Nations Children's Fund estimates that more than half of those affected by the floods are minors, a fact that transforms the climate emergency into a child protection crisis.

More than 50 children have been forced to leave their homes and are now in temporary centers, many of them overcrowded, where hygiene and safety conditions are precarious. The floods not only destroy infrastructure, but also affect the quality of available drinking water, creating opportunities for outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

The combination of unsafe water, malnutrition, and limited access to health services poses a deadly threat to already vulnerable children. Even before the floods, almost four out of ten children in Mozambique suffered from chronic malnutrition, a structural problem that tends to worsen with crop failures and disruptions to food supply chains.

Disruption to education is another critical factor. Submerged or damaged schools force the suspension of classes, increasing the risk of school dropout, especially among girls and teenagers.

UNICEF warns that what happens in the coming days and weeks will be crucial not only for the immediate survival of these children, but also for their ability to recover, return to school and rebuild their life plans.

Given the scale of the crisis, the national response has been accompanied by significant international mobilization. Portugal activated a rapid response instrument worth €300 for humanitarian support in the most affected provinces, through... Camões Institute for Cooperation and Language.

The support is intended to strengthen assistance to the affected populations, in a gesture that underscores the historical ties and cooperation between the two countries. The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLPHe appealed for international solidarity, stressing the need to support vulnerable populations affected by cyclical climate crises.

In a statement, the organization urged international entities such as FAOThe World Food Programme and the World Meteorological Organization are joining forces to promote climate justice and strengthen prevention programs and humanitarian assistance.

On the ground, civil society organizations play a central role. Caritas Mozambique It reinforced its presence in the provinces of Gaza and Maputo, ensuring the supply of drinking water, food, sanitation and support to vulnerable groups.

A Help!The non-governmental development organization activated response plans focused on assisting scholarship students and replenishing school supplies in affected schools. These initiatives demonstrate that the response to the crisis depends as much on state action as on the active involvement of civil society and international partners.

The floods in Mozambique reveal a reality that goes beyond the immediate emergency and raises profound questions about perseverance, prevention, and climate justice. The combination of extreme phenomena, structural fragilities, and a predominantly young population creates a highly vulnerable situation that demands rapid responses and, at the same time, long-term solutions.

Saving lives remains the absolute priority, but the reconstruction that will follow will have to integrate more resilient infrastructure, effective warning systems, and social protection policies capable of reducing the impact of future crises.

The challenge is not only to rebuild houses and roads, but to ensure that affected communities have the conditions to recover with dignity and safety in an increasingly unpredictable climate context.