Sofala expects 439,000 people affected during rainy season
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Opais
Illustrative image · Safari Consoler · Pexels · Licence PexelsMozambique’s Sofala province expects up to 439,000 people to be affected during the 2026-2027 rainy and cyclone season, with a budget of 43 million meticais. The plan focuses on flood risks between January and March, while 280,000 residents are already facing a food crisis, Opais reports.
Mozambique’s Sofala province expects 439,000 people could be affected by the 2026-2027 rainy and cyclone season, according to the contingency plan adopted on Monday by the Emergency Operations Committee. The plan has a budget of 43 million meticais, Opais reports.
The Sofala delegate of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, Aristides Armando, linked the estimate to weather forecasts associated with the El Niño phenomenon. The National Meteorology Institute forecasts normal rainfall, with a below-normal trend across most of the province, as well as extremely high temperatures. Its Sofala delegate, Rosita Fernando, said rainfall was expected to be irregular and that the forecast did not include rain that a possible cyclone might bring.
Despite a trend towards severe drought in some districts, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction reports a risk of moderate flooding between January and March in the Savane, Búzi, Púnguè and Save basins, as well as in the city of Beira. About 280,000 people are currently facing a food crisis in Sofala after floods affected the four basins at the start of the year. The RAP climate insurance programme, funded by the World Bank, is providing them with direct assistance intended for about 45,000 families.
The Emergency Operations Committee is due to meet again next week to determine the pre-positioning of resources, food and rescue teams. The forecast of irregular rainfall for the 2026-2027 season was published on 14 September.
