In 2024, Unicef aided 61,400 climate-affected individuals in Mozambique, including 10,315 children under five. Nine health centers were rehabilitated, benefiting over one million people. Mozambique faces severe climate challenges with recent floods impacting 240,000 individuals, resulting in extensive property damage and loss of life over recent years.
In 2024, Unicef provided emergency medical assistance to 61,400 individuals affected by climate change in Mozambique. A significant portion of this assistance reached children, with 10,315 beneficiaries being under five years old. The report highlights the rehabilitation and equipping of nine health centers in the Sofala and Nampula provinces, facilitating healthcare access for over one million individuals.
Unicef conducted a health emergency risk analysis to enhance Mozambique’s preparedness and resilience against climate change. This analysis aims to help the country design risk-informed programs, prioritizing actions for future public health emergencies. Mozambique is one of the nations most impacted by climate change, experiencing floods and tropical cyclones from October to April during its rainy season.
The last rainy season, which commenced in October 2023, has already impacted approximately 240,000 individuals, with over 1,800 homes completely destroyed. According to the government, damage included more than 34,000 houses, with extensive destruction reported by officials. These climate-related events have posed severe risks to the population.
From 2019 to 2023, extreme weather events resulted in at least 1,016 fatalities and adversely affected around 4.9 million people, according to the National Statistics Institute. The 2023 Basic Environmental Indicators report cataloged the effects of these events, noting 2,936 injuries during the same period. Cyclone Idai, in 2019, struck hardest in Sofala province, causing significant fatalities and injuries among the population.
Unicef’s emergency assistance in Mozambique directly addressed the urgent medical needs of over 61,000 individuals affected by climate change. The agency’s efforts also included vital healthcare infrastructure enhancements, while ongoing analysis aims to prepare the country for future climate-related health crises. The severe impact of extreme weather on Mozambique underscores the critical need for sustained aid and resilience-building initiatives.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
