IOM ramps up flood response in Mozambique as displacement tops half a million

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is stepping up its emergency response in Mozambique, where weeks of torrential rain have caused severe flooding and displaced more than half a million people, the agency reported. Working with the government and partners, IOM is expanding life-saving aid and boosting displacement tracking and protection efforts as the crisis spreads across the country.

“As floods force thousands from their homes, IOM is working alongside the Government and humanitarian actors to improve conditions in overcrowded shelters and deliver essential support to those most at risk,” said Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Mozambique. “But needs are growing fast—we urgently need more resources to reach the hardest-hit communities.”

Flooding has inundated parts of southern and central Mozambique, submerging neighborhoods and damaging infrastructure. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix reports that more than 600,000 people have been affected across five provinces—Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, and Zambézia. Over 73,000 people are now sheltering in 71 accommodation centers, with Gaza Province among the most severely impacted. Sites in Chiaquelene and Xilembene alone are hosting nearly 55,000 displaced people.

Families in temporary shelters urgently need safe water, sanitation, food, health care, and protection assistance. Overcrowding and damaged infrastructure are compounding risks, including the spread of disease and heightened vulnerability for women and children. IOM is sharing updated displacement data with Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) and coordinating with humanitarian partners to better target aid deliveries.

Following the government’s declaration of a nationwide Red Alert, authorities have appealed for international support, including helicopters for search and rescue, emergency supplies, and logistical assistance. As lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management, IOM has deployed teams to Gaza Province to strengthen site management, coordinate assistance, and ensure the safety and dignity of affected families. Health, water, sanitation, and protection teams are also being mobilized to ease pressure on overcrowded sites.

With rivers still overflowing and roads cut off across several provinces, IOM warns that needs are outpacing available resources. The agency is appealing for immediate funding and in-kind contributions to deliver shelter and household essentials, scale up protection services, and improve conditions for the thousands who have lost everything in the floods.