Maputo, Oct. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambican women and children walk for hours to fetch water, and authorities continue to address exploitation and security challenges in flood-affected areas in Gaza, while resettlement plans show progress, according to an official report.
According to the document, drawn up by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) and humanitarian partners, the assessment carried out between May and June focused on 14 potential resettlement sites in the districts of Bilene, Chibuto, Chókwè, Guijá and Massingir, in Gaza province – the area most severely affected by the floods in southern Mozambique earlier this year.
The identified sites cover 993 hectares and could accommodate 7,412 families, but only 11 were classified as suitable or partially suitable for immediate development, covering 863 hectares and accommodating 6,427 families.
The assessment concludes that the main opportunities to enhance resettlement include improving access to drinking water, strengthening sanitation, shortening distances to schools and health centres, ensuring all-season access, and expanding livelihood opportunities.
In Nhamusse, in the Massingir district, people sometimes walk for around two hours to collect water fit for consumption, whilst in Chingoe the journey can take up to one hour. At several assessed sites, the population relies on insufficient boreholes, brackish wells or seasonal springs located several kilometres from the areas earmarked for resettlement.
The report also highlights ongoing protection challenges; in Marrenguele, in the Chókwè district, a local resident reported a family that «allegedly promised their daughter in marriage in exchange for essential goods after losing their livelihoods due to the floods», illustrating the vulnerability of some affected communities.
Experts also identified opportunities to address gender-based violence, child marriage, child labour and potential social conflicts, recommending that community protection mechanisms be strengthened before families relocate permanently.
In several Massingir locations, communities face wildlife risks, as some residents collect water in areas frequented by crocodiles and hippos—an additional consideration for the safety of resettled families.
Despite these challenges, the assessment considers that most sites can proceed to the development phases, and the report recommends postponing action on Chitar, Mucatine 1 and Zulu 1 at this stage due to constraints relating to water availability, accessibility or other technical factors.
Meanwhile, Marrenguele, Mucatine 2, Panghoene, Chingoe, Nhamusse, Majaulane, Javanhane, Chinhacanine and 25 de Setembro have been identified as priorities for future interventions, and they require prior investment in basic infrastructure.
In Majaulane, in the district of Chibuto, the assessors recommend further investigations because activities linked to heavy-sand extraction may affect the land's future use.
The assessment followed one of the most destructive rainy seasons in recent years in Mozambique, with data from the INGD indicating that it caused 314 deaths, affected more than 1 million people and damaged nearly 260,000 homes across the country.
The January floods alone, the most severe recorded in several years, caused 43 deaths, 147 injuries and nine people missing, affecting 715,716 people. The floods also resulted in the loss of 320,464 hectares of crops, affecting 373,262 farmers, and caused the death of 532,985 animals, mainly in Gaza.
According to the resettlement report, many families still maintain links to the flood-prone areas they came from or remain in temporary accommodation months after the floods, highlighting the need to accelerate investment in water, sanitation, health, education and infrastructure to build resilience to future extreme weather events.
PVJ/ADB // ADB
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