Since the impacts caused by Cyclones Kenneth and Idai in 2019, Mozambique has invested in improving early warning systems for disaster risks, recording notable advances in their effectiveness and robustness. According to national authorities, current systems have a stronger capacity to communicate risks to vulnerable communities.
During the National Workshop on Strengthening Preparedness and Early Response in Mozambique, held in Maputo, David Kohoko, a consultant for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, highlighted clear improvements.
“The analyses carried out after the 2019 cyclones pointed to a flawed and disorganized communication of risks. But in 2023, with the arrival of Cyclone Freddy, there was a significant change: the population was informed, relocated to safe areas and had access to food and water,” explained Kohoko.
For the first time, he said, an immediate response from the population to evacuation orders issued by community leaders via local radios and megaphones installed in vehicles was observed. Despite the progress, Kohoko warned that challenges remain, especially with regard to coordination between local authorities, especially in rural areas, and central agencies located in urban areas. The disparity between urban and rural regions remains visible, both in access to infrastructure and in response capacity.
“Urban centers are better equipped in terms of communication, transportation and emergency services, which facilitates a faster response. In rural areas, the response is hampered by degraded roads, limited infrastructure and a lack of resources,” he explained.
According to Kohoko, the weak institutional capacity for disaster risk management (DRM) in less developed areas requires greater allocation of funds and the creation of a regular and sustainable financial flow. Currently, only about 0.142 percent of the national budget is allocated to the Disaster Management Fund (FGC), focusing mainly on response and recovery actions, to the detriment of prevention and mitigation.
The lack of a structured and permanent financing model leads to a strong dependence on external funds. Kohoko advocated the need for a fixed and predictable budget allocation at local and district levels, which would allow greater autonomy for local governments in implementing long-term resilience plans.
In addition, Kohoko stressed the urgency of a legal mechanism to facilitate the rapid entry of humanitarian aid during emergency situations. The absence of a dedicated structure for coordinating international assistance compromises the effectiveness of the early warning system, as logistical and bureaucratic bottlenecks can delay the arrival of crucial support.
“Legal provisions to speed up the delivery of aid, including customs clearance, logistics and regulatory exemptions, are essential to make the response more agile and effective,” he said.
The Secretary General of the Red Cross of Mozambique (CVM), Cristina Uamusse, added that the research presented during the meeting highlights the importance of reviewing the legal instruments that govern the procedures related to the reception and distribution of goods donated by partners.
“A large part of the goods come from abroad, and we need to better understand the legal procedures to avoid delays and costs associated with storage in private locations, which could be avoided with greater clarity and speed in the procedures,” she stressed.
The main objective of the two-day event is to present the results of the legal review of the Disaster Risk Management Framework in Mozambique, a study carried out between December 2024 and March 2025.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
