Mozambique lost seven percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019 due to the economic impact of tropical cyclone Idai, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Speaking today about the impact of climate change on the economy, JICA Mozambique's Deputy Chief Representative Chiaki Kobayashi said that this demonstrates the country's vulnerability to financial losses caused by natural disasters.

The official, who recalled the Fukushima (Japan) earthquake in 2011, said that the experience of that Asian country in processes of infrastructure reconstruction could be an asset to Mozambique.

"Given that climate damage tends to be more severe and recurrent, we need to think of ways to protect people and the economy" he said, warning that one of the ways is to make continuous investments in preventing such phenomena.

JICA estimates that three billion dollars will be needed for Mozambique to restore the economic and social infrastructure in the central and northern areas hit by the storms.

Cyclone Idai hit central Mozambique in March 2019, causing more than 600 deaths. In April of the same year, Cyclone Kenneth killed 45 people in the north of the country.

The 2018/2019 rainy season was one of the most severe in memory in Mozambique: a total of 714 people died, including 648 victims of the two cyclones.

Mozambique is considered to be one of the countries most affected by climate change in the world.