SADC Deploys Emergency Support as Mozambique Battles Severe Flooding
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Mozambique and Permanent Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Antonio Macheve, has paid a courtesy call on Elias M. Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, reaffirming regional solidarity following devastating floods in Mozambique.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the High Commissioner to convey Mozambique’s deep appreciation for the solidarity and support extended by the SADC family in the wake of the disaster.
He expressed gratitude for the deployment of the SADC Emergency Response Team (ERT) and for the assistance received from several Member States during what he described as a challenging humanitarian period.
Severe flooding has affected large parts of Mozambique’s central and southern regions, particularly the provinces of Gaza, Maputo, Sofala, Inhambane and Manica. In response to the scale of the disaster, the Government of Mozambique declared a Red Alert on 16 January 2026 and issued an appeal for international humanitarian assistance.
Mr Macheve commended the SADC ERT for its technical expertise and operational support, noting that the team played a critical role in strengthening national coordination mechanisms, supporting rescue operations and reinforcing early recovery efforts.
He further highlighted Mozambique’s continued vulnerability to natural disasters, especially floods and cyclones, which pose recurring threats to livelihoods, infrastructure and national development.
In this context, the High Commissioner emphasised the importance of granting full autonomy and accelerating the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) in Nacala, Mozambique.
He said the Centre has already proven useful and, once fully operational, will significantly enhance the region’s collective capacity for disaster preparedness, response and early recovery.
Mr Magosi conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Mozambique for the lives lost and widespread destruction caused by the floods. He reaffirmed SADC’s unwavering solidarity and stressed the urgent need to strengthen regional disaster risk management systems in the face of increasing climate-related hazards.
He also underscored the importance of operationalising the SADC Regional Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund, established under the SADC Disaster Preparedness and Response Strategy and Fund (2016–2030). The Fund is intended to provide timely financial support to Member States affected by disasters that overwhelm national response capacities, enabling the rapid mobilisation of life-saving assistance.
The SADC ERT was deployed to Mozambique from 23 to 31 January 2026, providing technical support to national authorities in emergency response and early recovery operations, and contributing to coordinated regional humanitarian efforts.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration to strengthen the effectiveness of SADC’s institutional mechanisms, including through sustained engagement within platforms such as the SADC Committee of Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms Maria Eusebia Tapua Sulumide, Counsellor, and Mr Jorge Mahanjane, Second Secretary at the High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique in Botswana.
The Executive Secretary was accompanied by Mr Mike Masiye, Director of Policy, Planning and Resource Mobilisation, and Ms Nana Dlamini, Acting Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit at the SADC Secretariat.
