Southern Africa faces a dual catastrophe as devastating floods not only displace hundreds of thousands but also unleash dangerous wildlife into populated areas. In Mozambique’s submerged Gaza province, crocodiles from the overflowing Limpopo River have claimed at least three lives, adding a lethal dimension to the ongoing natural disaster.
Torrential rains persisting for over a month have triggered widespread flooding across Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, resulting in more than 100 fatalities and destroying critical infrastructure including roads, bridges and health facilities. The situation in Xai-Xai, Gaza’s provincial capital, has become particularly perilous as rising waters enable crocodiles to access urban areas normally beyond their reach.
According to provincial secretary Henriques Bongece, authorities have issued urgent warnings for residents to avoid stagnant waters where crocodiles now drift freely. The reptiles are believed to have been washed into populated zones from South African wildlife parks through interconnected flood systems.
The humanitarian impact extends far beyond wildlife threats. UN agencies report that approximately 700,000 people—more than half children—have been affected by the disaster. The World Food Program and UNICEF highlight extensive agricultural devastation that threatens food security for millions of small-scale farmers.
Health services face catastrophic disruption with at least 44 medical facilities destroyed in Gaza and Maputo provinces alone. The World Health Organization warns that over 50,000 displaced people in temporary shelters lack access to basic healthcare, creating life-threatening interruptions for those requiring chronic medication and increasing risks of water-borne diseases like cholera.
Humanitarian organizations emphasize that urgent action is needed to restore essential services, deploy mobile health teams, and address the escalating hunger and disease threats across the three nations.