Churches in Mozambique have stepped up to act as temporary shelters, after the country started the year with three months of rainfall in just ten days.

Over 100 people died in the deluge, with crop fields remaining submerged. Homes and infrastructure have also been damaged.  Key roads into Maputo, the capital, have been cut off, stranding many residents.

Over 645,000 people have been affected so far, including 76,000 from the Buzi district, which was flooded twice in under a month. With heavy rain forecast to continue, the Government of Mozambique has issued a red alert.

Judas Massingue, Tearfund’s Country Director for Mozambique, said: “This flooding has already been devastating, destroying crops and people’s livelihoods, and the situation is getting worse. Tearfund and the local church are already on the ground responding.”

He told Premier Christian News that one church leader has been sleeping in his car, due to his home being waterlogged.

Church leaders trained by Tearfund are using WhatsApp groups to share flood preparedness and alert messages, opening their church buildings as refuge centres for displaced people, collecting food donations, and directing rescue teams to areas in need. Some pastors are also opening their homes to those without shelter.

Local disaster risk reduction committees, supported by Tearfund and partners, are actively involved in rescue operations. Massingue added: “There are huge needs: evacuations, shelter, safe water, basic sanitation, as people flee their homes with only a few possessions on their backs.”

“Please pray for wisdom for Tearfund volunteers and partners," Massingue urged. That is what is needed to overcome this situation."