Mozambique: Tropical Storm Filipo wipes out what had remained after drought

On March 12, communities facing food insecurity in Mozambique were hit by another crisis, as Tropical Storm Filipo wiped out what little crops were left after a season of drought.

In the area where Tearfund's local partner Rede Crista is supporting community development activities, families depend on agriculture for survival. Due to the intersection of these two crises, the region is in food shock, with supplies scarce, production halted, and no seeds to take advantage of the upcoming seasons.

Despite roads being blocked by storm damage, Rede Crista has been able to communicate with community members to assess their immediate and longer term needs. "The storm 'cleaned' the little corn that had escaped the drought, with no chance of recovery" Rede Crista reports. "Families need corn seed for the next season to take advantage of the moisture left behind by the storm." Rede Crista is supporting 100 impacted families with the provision of seeds, both corn for the next season, and faster-growing vegetable seeds to provide food to eat and sell.

Tropical Storm Filipo has left hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of assistance, just one year after Cyclone Freddy caused loss and devastation in the same areas of Mozambique. Mozambique is considered to be among the nations in Africa most vulnerable to climate change, with extreme weather events increasing in frequency and severity. Alongside ongoing community development projects, Tearfund's local Christian partners are active in helping communities to recover and adapt after disasters, build resilience to climate shocks, and create strong networks of community support – work that is having a transformative impact in such a challenging context.