MOZAMBIQUE: Over 230,000 children out of school after worst flooding in decades

MAPUTO (Feb. 23, 2026) – More than 230,000 children in Mozambique have had their education disrupted this year after the worst flooding in decades damaged hundreds of schools, homes, and roads. With months remaining in the cyclone season, support for education in affected areas is urgent, according to Save the Children.

Exceptionally heavy rainfall that began in late December caused widespread, severe flooding across southern Mozambique in January, triggering a rapidly escalating emergency just as the country entered its annual cyclone season. The devastation deepened in mid-February when Tropical Cyclone Gezani brought more torrential rainfall and winds of up to 133 mph.

Flooding has affected more than 720,000 people this year, over half of them children.¹ Families who were already struggling now face increased economic hardship due to the flooding impacting livelihoods, leaving many unable to afford school, raising the risk of long-term learning loss and permanent dropout.  

Ilaria Manunza, Country Director of Save the Children in Mozambique, said:

"Children in southern Mozambique are once again on the front lines of a natural disaster. Back-to-back flooding has destroyed their schools and robbed them of their education, putting their futures at risk, and the cyclone season has just begun. Thousands of children and families are already reeling from previous cyclones, and the latest floods have laid waste to roads, health facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

"Save the Children is one of only two international organizations supporting education in the affected areas. Education must not be another casualty of natural disasters – urgent action is needed to get children back into safe classrooms. We will remain on the ground until every child can safely return to school."

Save the Children is supporting children out of school by running education activities in safe spaces, including temporary accommodation centers in Gaza Province. The child rights organization is also training teachers to deliver structured, play-based learning reinforced by primary school textbooks to support learning and emotional well-being.

Save the Children is calling on the international community to make education in emergencies a core part of the humanitarian response, ensuring children affected by floods and cyclones can continue learning, and to invest in disaster-resilient education systems.

Save the Children has operated in Mozambique since 1986. The organization responds to major emergencies, including floods, cyclones, droughts and conflict‑related displacement – and delivers programs in child protection, education, health and nutrition, food security, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), while strengthening local leadership through partnerships.

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[1] UN OCHA, Flash Update No.7 – Heavy rains and floods in central and southern Mozambique