Oxfam is warning that Mozambique could be seriously impacted by Tropical Storm Gezani, which is currently gaining intensity over the Mozambique channel. Even if it doesn’t make landfall, it is likely to cause strong winds and flooding rain across Sofala, Gaza and Inhambane provinces - areas which have already been devastated by months of heavy rainfall and flooding. Local reports say more than a million people could be affected. 

Aderito Dzimba, Oxfam’s Comms Manager in Mozambique, said: “We’re deeply concerned as this could be yet another disaster to hit communities already reeling from months of excessive, heavy rainfall and flooding, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes and in urgent need of food and shelter.” 

Oxfam has been responding, providing emergency water and hygiene kits in the province of Gaza, one of the areas worst affected by the recent flooding, but it says more humanitarian assistance is desperately needed. 

“Even if Gezani doesn’t inflict more damage and misery, the needs are great.” Said Dzimba. 

SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABLE 

Contact information:

To arrange an interview with an Oxfam spokesperson in Mozambique please contact:  

Fatuma Noor, Media and Communications - Oxfam in Africa, on: Fatuma.noor@oxfam.org / Mobile: +254723944682  

Sarah Dransfield, News Manager, Oxfam International, on: Sarah.Dransfield@oxfam.org / Mobile: +44 (0)7345 768578 

Notes to editors:
  • Consecutive weeks of heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in southern and central Mozambique, forcing families to leave their homes and submerging entire neighborhoods as rivers continue to overflow. On February 5th, the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction reported that 723,500 people were affected including 392,000 people who have been displaced as their homes were flooded or destroyed. 
  • Critical infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, road networks, and essential services, have been extensively damaged. Access remains a major challenge due to flooding and thousands of kilometres of roads have been damaged or destroyed. 
  • Humanitarian needs are rapidly outpacing available resources. Affected communities face significant shortages of shelter and essential supplies, including food, clean water and hygiene kits. 
  • The National Institute of Disaster Management is monitoring the situation predicting that more than one million people could be affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Gezani, whose forecasts indicate that, from Thursday (12), it may hit the provinces of Sofala, Gaza and Inhambane, in central and southern Mozambique.