Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo has cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos due to severe floods that have affected hundreds of thousands of people in the Southern African country.
The floods, caused by heavy rains since mid-December, have damaged infrastructure and displaced people in Gaza, Maputo, and Sofala provinces. Chapo prioritized saving lives, saying Mozambique “is going through a tough time”.
The UN estimates over 400,000 people have been affected, with numbers expected to rise. South Africa has deployed an air force helicopter to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
The floods are part of a growing trend of extreme weather events in southeastern Africa, exacerbated by climate change.
