Continuous heavy rain across southern Africa has placed enormous pressure on Mozambique's largest hydro-electric dam, the Cahora Bassa. It is not yet clear how many people are currently displaced by the flooding as there are a number of conflicting estimates, ranging from 4,000 and 77,000.
The flood waters are rising much more gradually than they did last year, when 700 people died in flooding and 500,000 were made homeless. However, it is currently being assumed that this situation will worsen.

Neighbouring Malawi is also suffering flooding, with around 200,000 people affected in the south of the country. Some of those affected have been forced to cross into northern Mozambique.

The UN estimate of those at risk is between 45 and 75,000 people.

A Department for International Development (DfID) fly-over assessment of the affected area on 26th February reported very few sightings of displaced people.

Oxfam staff in the field report that the situation does not at present require an emergency response. While Oxfam's assessment is yet to be completed and adequate information is as yet unavailable, Oxfam remains on standby, as the situation could rapidly deteriorate - there are some reports that water and sanitation provision in camps set up for those displaced by flooding is poor.