Southern Africa: Heavy Rains and Floods Flash Update No. 2 (27 January 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Widespread rains and flash floods have continued across Southern Africa since mid-December, with an estimated
  300 people killed and nearly 800,000 affected, mainly in Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa,
  Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Some parts of Southern Africa were forecast to receive moderate-to-above-average rainfall between 26 and 30
  January, increasing the likelihood of further flooding. These include northern and central Madagascar, northern
  Mozambique and Malawi, much of Zambia, southern Tanzania and parts of Angola.
• National authorities continue to lead the response, providing strategic and operational leadership, while humanitarian organizations deliver assistance and mobilize resources, and funding partners provide financial support to scale up efforts.
• Access and funding remain the most critical constraints, as flooding and infrastructure damage have rendered large areas inaccessible. Humanitarian needs are rising amid overstretched services, limited response capacity, and significant impacts on livelihoods.