Can natural disasters impact children growth paths? This research follows the current interest on
the effects of large-scale natural disasters on human capital outcomes. We combine DHS Survey
Data with GPS Data to study the impact of Mozambican major floods on children’s health
outcomes. This particular flooding episode was caused by a combination of heavy tropical
rainfalls and cyclone Eline taking place in early 2000. OLS and Propensity Score Matching are
used to examine the causal relationship between household’s distance from flooded area and
anthropometric outcomes of children. We conclude that for children born between 2000 and
2003, a kilometre increase in household’s distance leads to a 0.012 and 0.024 increase in the
weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores, respectively.
Keywords: natural disasters, Mozambique, children’s weight and heigh
