Mozambique Deploys Drone Squad to Combat Climate Disasters

Thirty Mozambican specialists have completed a rigorous certification program to operate aerial drones, marking a shift toward tech-driven disaster response. Supported by a US$967,000 investment, the initiative aims to replace slow, traditional assessment methods with rapid, real-time data collection during cyclones and floods in the nation's most vulnerable zones.

The training, conducted in Maputo, involved collaboration between the Ministry of Communication and Digital Transformation, Busan Technopark, and PNU Drone. Graduates received instruction in mission planning, regulatory compliance, and aerial maintenance, with ten participants qualifying specifically as instructors to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. This core group will now spearhead operations in five high-risk regions, where they will conduct search and rescue, mapping, and surveillance tasks.

African Development Bank Country Manager Rômulo Corrêa emphasized that the project prioritizes local expertise over temporary aid. By moving beyond simple equipment procurement, the initiative provides the infrastructure for national institutions to manage their own digital response systems. Aderito Celso Félix Aramuge, Director General of the National Institute of Meteorology, noted that this foundation is critical for the country’s broader digital resilience strategy, as climate-related hazards continue to threaten infrastructure and public safety.