Food - Young children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. In the worst affected areas, access to food and safe drinking water has been severely restricted since the floods began. Reports suggest that there is already an increase in the number of cases of severe and moderate malnutrition among children. Health - Many areas have no safe drinking water or sanitation facilities. Already, the number of cases of water-borne and communicable diseases, including diarrhoea has increased.
Malaria also poses a threat, as stagnant pools of water are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Mozambique's infant and child mortality rates are already among the worst in the world, with 13 per cent of babies dying before their first birthday and 20 per cent before the age of five. Children will be severely affected any outbreaks of disease resulting from the floods. Others have been washed away in the floodwaters. The situation is particularly bad in rural areas, where there are fewer schools. Thank you for your visit.