After the floods, hunger: Mozambique’s second disaster

Months after devastating floods swept through Xai-Xai, Mozambique, Joacim Pinto finds himself facing a new disaster: hunger. The floodwaters, which ravaged his community from late 2025 into early 2026, not only destroyed his crops and livestock but also his ability to provide for his family.

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We either die from the floods, or if we survive, hunger takes over

"We either die from the floods, or if we survive, hunger takes over," Pinto told Al Jazeera. The floods submerged fields, washed away wells and pipes, and decimated gardens that once provided food security and income. Now, the ground where his crops once grew serves as a stark reminder of his losses.

The disaster has had a widespread impact across Mozambique's southern and central provinces, including Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane, Sofala, and Zambezia. For the estimated 314,783 farmers affected, the destruction of approximately 275,405 hectares of farmland represents a severe blow to their livelihoods. In rural Mozambique, farming is a critical household safety net, and its loss has left many families vulnerable.

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So, while the exact inflation rate varies by district, what we see on the ground is significant pressure on food prices driven by a dramatic reduction in supply, alongside a surge in humanitarian needs

The World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted the severe disruption to food access in the affected areas. Damaged roads have made transportation difficult, markets have ceased operating in some communities, and transport costs have surged. With local food production drastically reduced and markets struggling, food prices have climbed sharply, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Ana Mato Hombre, a WFP Mozambique spokesperson, noted significant pressure on food prices due to reduced supply and increased humanitarian needs.

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In many flood-affected areas, food stocks were lost, cropland destroyed and several markets are not functioning at all