Since January, the Southern Africa region has been severely affected by flooding, due to the rainy season starting in Malawi as well as tropical cyclone Idai making landfall on 14 March, bringing torrential rainfall and winds to several provinces in Mozambique and with devastating effects for Beira city. Since 2018, Mozambique has been affected by acute food insecurity due to below-average and erratic rainfall.
To date, as many as 29,613 people have been displaced in Malawi and Mozambique, seeking refuge in neighbouring areas. It is estimated that around half of all displaced persons are women and adolescents.
UNFPA has successfully positioned more than US$600,000, including pre-existing CERF-approved funds, for food insecurity in the region. More than one million people have been affected by flooding, among which are 270,000 women of reproductive age. Working alongside host governments and inter-agency committees, UNFPA is providing leadership in the areas of protection, sexual and reproductive health and coordination in support of affected populations.
