Lift up cyclone-devastated families in Mozambique

Resilience Amidst the Rain: Finding Hope in Mozambique’s Prolonged Flood Crisis

Since January, Southern Africa has been gripped by a relentless flood disaster, affecting over 700,000 people across Mozambique’s southern and central regions. Unlike the swift strike of a cyclone, this year’s crisis is the result of persistent, heavy rainfall, leading to widespread and lingering destruction. For many Mozambicans, who battle floods year after year, this latest blow threatens to stall an already difficult recovery. Yet, even in the most isolated villages and crowded emergency shelters, a powerful spirit of resilience shines through the smiles of those determined to rebuild once more.

On the Ground: Peace Winds Responds to the Crisis

In response to the escalating crisis, Peace Winds has dispatched an emergency support team to the affected regions. Our team is currently on the ground in Sofala Province, Central Mozambique—one of the hardest-hit areas. We are conducting rapid damage assessments and engaging directly with local communities to ensure our assistance is not just immediate, but deeply aligned with the specific, evolving needs of the survivors.

Combating Malaria: Delivering Vital Hygiene Kits to Evacuation Shelters

Following our initial assessment, Peace Winds returned to the Chirimone resettlement center’s temporary shelter on February 4 to deliver essential relief. During our previous visit, the community voiced urgent concerns over shortages of food and water, as well as the rising threat of malaria.

In direct response to these findings, we prepared supplies tailored to their specific needs. On this day, we successfully distributed hygiene kits to 160 households, providing critical tools to improve sanitation and combat the spread of disease in the crowded shelter.

Empowering the Community: What’s Inside the Hygiene Kits

Each hygiene kit consists of essential items: a bucket, disinfectant, soap, and mosquito nets. The disinfectant is a critical lifeline, designed to be mixed with water in the bucket to ensure it is safe for drinking.

To ensure the supplies are used effectively, our team provided clear instructions on proper usage. With the invaluable support of local volunteers and community leaders, we coordinated the distribution, ensuring that these packaged essentials reached each of the 160 households directly.

Voices from the Community

The impact of the distribution was best captured by the words of the survivors themselves:“We have wells, but we had no buckets to store drinking water. This is a huge relief for us,” shared one resident. Another added, “I have been so worried about malaria, especially with the standing water everywhere. Having a mosquito net now gives me great peace of mind.”

Unwavering Spirits: Finding Strength and Brightness in Isolated Villages 

Reaching the Unreachable: Our Mission to Mutambanhe

Among the many areas we have visited, Mutambanhe in the Machanga district of southern Sofala Province left a profound impression. Following the floods, the region became a virtual island, completely cut off by submerged roads.

For over a month, no relief organizations or government surveys had been able to reach the area. Determined to bridge this gap, Peace Winds secured a boat and embarked on a multi-hour journey across the floodwaters. We were accompanied by local government officials who, until that day, had been unable to access the village. For the people of Mutambanhe, our arrival marked the very first step toward their recovery.

A 10-Hour Journey: Overcoming Obstacles to Reach the Village

Our journey to Mutambanhe was far from simple. When our motorboat’s engine failed, we had to adapt, switching to a local crab-fishing canoe that was returning to the village. After two transfers and nearly ten hours of travel, we finally arrived. To our moved hearts, we found the villagers gathered, waiting to greet us.

The reality we found was staggering. In this community of 1,500 people, the entire area had been submerged. Every essential facility—homes, wells, bathing areas, toilets, and waste sites—was severely damaged. The flood had not just taken their belongings; it had completely disrupted the foundation of their daily lives.

A Year’s Harvest Lost, Yet Hope Remains

The agricultural devastation in Mutambanhe is absolute. This is the season when families typically harvest and store a year’s supply of staples—rice, corn, and cassava. Instead, the floodwaters claimed it all, including their vital backup rice stocks. With their food security shattered, the village now faces a looming hunger crisis.

Yet, amidst this harsh reality, we were moved by the spirit of the people. The villagers who guided us through the wreckage and assisted with our surveys remained incredibly cheerful. Their resilience and positive outlook, even in the face of such profound loss, serve as a powerful reminder of why we must stand with them.

"Please Come Again": The Indomitable Spirit of Mutambanhe

What moved us most was the incredible humor and pride of the villagers. When looking at rice that had sprouted and rotted in the flood, some joked, "Maybe now we’ll finally be able to eat rice again!" and laughed together. Even the school principal, while demonstrating how to scoop muddy water from a shallow, makeshift well, did so with a cheerful smile: "This is how we get our drinking water!"

We also met a family whose home had been completely leveled. Rather than despair, they proudly showed us the frame of a new structure they were building with their own hands. "Look, we’ve already built this much!" they told us with pride. As our boat finally pulled away, the villagers stood on the shore, waving and calling out, "Please come again," until we were well out of sight. Their resilience is not just about surviving; it is about living with dignity and hope.

"We Are Not Forgotten": The Vital Bridge Between People and Support

We later learned that during the devastating floods of 2014, this village was overlooked by the aid coordination and received no aid. For the people of Mutambanhe, our arrival—and the fact that we brought government officials with us—meant more than just supplies. It was proof that this time, they were not forgotten.

"I hesitated at first because of the extreme difficulty of access," reflected Peace Winds staff member Kikuchi. "But seeing their faces, I am truly glad we went." Even the accompanying officials were moved, stating, "Thanks to Peace Winds, we finally reached this village. I will report these realities to the central government and ensure it leads to further support."

At Peace Winds, our mission extends beyond direct relief; we serve as an essential bridge, advocating for those in remote areas and leveraging the unique strengths of an NGO to spark government action. We remain committed to standing by the disaster survivors in Mozambique.

We kindly ask for your generous donations to help us continue this lifesaving work.