Severe Drought in Central Mozambique: A Struggle for Survival Amid Food Insecurity
By António Massipa
In the heart of central Mozambique, 16-year-old Sozinha José is living a nightmare that is all too common in her community. “Because of hunger, other children and I dropped out of school,” she reveals, her voice tinged with despair. Sozinha’s family, like many others in the Mutarara district, is grappling with the devastating effects of a prolonged drought exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon. This isn’t just a personal tragedy; it’s a crisis that has gripped thousands of families already struggling to recover from the devastation of Cyclone Freddy.
The local government’s 2024 Mid-Year Performance Report paints a grim picture of the situation in Mutarara. The document states that the district’s population, still reeling from the impact of the cyclone, now faces an additional crisis due to a lack of rainfall attributed to El Niño. The report highlights a staggering loss of approximately 15,992 hectares of cultivated land—26.3% of ploughed and sown fields—directly impacting about 31,000 families. This dire situation calls for urgent attention as communities like Sozinha’s battle for survival.
Sozinha has endured unimaginable loss; she is orphaned, having lost both her parents. Now, she lives with her grandmother, Fanita, and her cousin, Ismael. Their existence has become a daily fight against hunger. “I’m suffering with hunger here. Before, we used to produce food normally, but now we’re suffering because of drought,” she explains. Unfortunately, even the few crops they managed to grow have dried up due to the arid conditions. “In these last two years, from 2023 to 2024, we haven’t been able to produce anything in the field,” Sozinha states, her words revealing a painful reality faced by countless families.
The struggle for food has forced Sozinha and her grandmother into desperate measures. “To survive, my grandmother and I go to the river to look for waterlily tubers to cook and eat. Some days we don’t manage to find the tubers. On those days, we have nothing to eat,” she shares. This heartbreaking admission highlights the extent of their food insecurity and the lengths to which they must go to find sustenance.
Sozinha’s story is far from unique. The local government report underscores the scale of the crisis, indicating that out of the 31,000 families affected by drought, a significant portion includes vulnerable groups—10,020 families rely on agriculture, 7,819 households are led by women, and thousands of children, elderly individuals, and disabled persons are also included in this troubling statistic. These numbers encapsulate the human cost of the ongoing drought and underscore the urgent need for intervention.
As the situation in Mozambique continues to deteriorate, the international community must take note. Aid organizations and governments alike need to respond swiftly to prevent human suffering on this scale. Initiatives aimed at providing food aid, improving water access, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices are crucial to help communities like Sozinha’s rebuild and foster resilience against future climate challenges.
Moreover, it is vital for policymakers to invest in long-term solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity in the region. This includes improving infrastructure, enhancing food production capabilities, and providing education on sustainable farming practices that can withstand the adverse effects of climate change.
In the face of adversity, the strength and resilience demonstrated by Sozinha, her family, and countless others in the region serve as a poignant reminder of the human spirit’s capacity to endure. However, without external support, their struggle is one that may prove insurmountable.
As this crisis unfolds, it is imperative that we not turn a blind eye. The stories of Sozinha and her neighbors are a call to action for governments, NGOs, and individuals worldwide to come together to alleviate the suffering and provide hope to those facing these harrowing challenges. The time to act is now, for the sake of the children like Sozinha, and for the future of countless families in Mozambique.
