Habitat International Coalition Africa (HIC Africa) expresses its profound solidarity with the individuals and communities across Southern Africa currently grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and to the countless citizens whose homes, livelihoods, and sense of security have been compromised by this climate-induced disaster.
Situation Overview
In recent weeks, unprecedented rainfall has triggered a humanitarian crisis across several nations, most notably Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Current reports indicate that over 100 lives have been lost, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced1.
Mozambique: Flooding in Gaza and Maputo provinces has forced tens of thousands from their homes, devastating farmland and critical social infrastructure2.
South Africa: Following the destruction of essential roads and bridges in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, a national state of disaster has been declared3.
Zimbabwe: Local communities are experiencing a humanitarian emergency characterized by rising fatalities and widespread residential destruction. Critical infrastructure and essential services have reached a point of disruption, with the city of Bulawayo serving as a primary example of the instability.
The Crisis of Climate Injustice
These floods are not isolated occurrences; they represent a dangerous escalation of unpredictable climate patterns. This crisis highlights a stark climate injustice: while Africa contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, it continues to bear the most severe consequences.
The impact is disproportionately felt in informal settlements and rural areas, where fragile infrastructure cannot withstand such shocks. Beyond the immediate destruction, we remain gravely concerned about:
The surge in waterborne diseases.
Long-term food insecurity due to destroyed crops.
The heightened vulnerability of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Call to Action
HIC Africa calls for immediate, coordinated intervention across three primary levels:
To Regional Governments: Urgently scale up humanitarian aid, ensure the protection of displaced persons, and prioritize community-led disaster risk reduction within national urban and rural planning.
To Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union: Strengthen cross-border early warning systems and harmonize regional climate resilience strategies to ensure a unified response to future threats.
To International Partners: Mobilize climate finance mechanisms immediately. Resources must be directed toward both emergency relief and long-term adaptation, specifically targeting vulnerable informal settlements.
Our Commitment
HIC Africa reaffirms its dedication to advocating for human rights-based, people-centered climate resilience. Recovery efforts must go beyond mere restoration; we must transform living conditions to ensure safer, more equitable, and climate-resilient human settlements for all.
In Solidarity,
Habitat International Coalition Africa (HIC Africa)
22 January 2026
1 AP News – Floods in Southern Africa https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-mozambique-flooding-weather-1e22c38611b1c8aba3ce4f9cf37ab9df
2 Africa news – Thousands affected by Mozambique floods https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/20/thousands-affected-by-severe-flooding-in-mozambique-un-says/
3 Channelstv – South Africa declares national disaster after floods https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/18/fg-condoles-with-south-africa-mozambique-zimbabwe-over-devastating-floods/
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