How tropical storms have hurt Mozambique

The East African | Five cyclones have devastated Mozambique and neighboring southern African countries since the beginning of this year, putting the population in desperate need of large-scale humanitarian relief.

The Maputo administration is anxious about the cyclones, especially since Mozambique has been affected by powerful storms and cyclones in recent years. This year, though, there have been more cyclones - five in only two months.

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth killed at least 1,000 people in Mozambique in 2019, making it one of the biggest natural catastrophes to hit southern Africa in at least two decades.

In 2021, the Tropical Chalane storm killed seven people in central Mozambique after passing through Madagascar and Zimbabwe. Cyclones Ana, Batsirai, Dumako, and Emnati slammed Mozambique in January and February of this year, with a fifth storm, Cyclone Gombe, hitting the country last week.

Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries, with the majority of its citizens surviving on less than $1 per day. It is ranked 181st out of 189 nations on the UN Human Development Index.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) blames cyclones and droughts in the region on global warming and climate change.