Beira, Mozambique, Aug. 6, 2026 (Lusa) – Mozambican authorities are stepping up food aid to at least 250,000 people in Sofala and pre-positioning food supplies in the most vulnerable regions, in light of the risk of drought associated with the El Nino climate phenomenon.
The information was released on Wednesday by Aristides Armando, the representative of the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Sofala, who cited the floods recorded at the start of the year and the forecast of an El Niño-related drought as among the main factors exacerbating the food security situation in the province.
«The data shows that a total of more than 250,000 people are facing food insecurity due to various factors,» he told journalists.
According to Aristides Armando, the INGD will resume food aid in the regions of Búzi, Nhamatanda, Muanza and Dondo, in central Mozambique, to which supplies are already being sent to ensure continued support for the most vulnerable families.
«To date, we have around 150 tonnes of food supplies in our warehouses,» he said.
He added that the authorities' response also includes measures to boost agricultural production before the effects of El Niño intensify, through the distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs.
«The most important thing right now is to redouble our efforts (...) so that we have food reserves ready for when the drought caused by El Niño hits,» he said.
According to him, the aim is to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid by creating the conditions for communities to build up food reserves before the next dry season.
In Mozambique, the El Niño phenomenon is associated with periods of below-average rainfall in various regions, which affects agricultural production – the main source of livelihood for a large part of the rural population.
The FEWS NET report published on 2 August warns that agricultural recovery following the floods in Mozambique earlier this year remains hampered by problems in the affected areas, against a backdrop where El Niño threatens to exacerbate food insecurity.
A report published on 16 July by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) estimated that more than 3.5 million Mozambicans are facing worrying levels of food insecurity, warning that the persistence of El Niño until the end of 2026 and early 2027 could reduce rainfall, exacerbate agricultural losses and drive up food prices.
According to the report, Mozambique ranks fifth in Southern Africa in terms of the absolute number of people experiencing acute food insecurity, and the improvements seen in the current agricultural season may prove temporary should the climate scenarios forecast for late 2026 and early 2027 materialise.
EYMZ/AYLS // AYLS
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