Last week's arrival of tropical cyclone Favio in central Mozambique has made the situation in the country worse since its massive flooding.

The disaster has now forced about 165,000 people from their homes in one of Africa's poorest countries, World Vision reports.

According to the charity's relief teams on the ground, the majority of displaced families are living in makeshift settlement areas with limited or no food, water, sanitation facilities or shelter.

"Many families who escaped the flash floods are now trapped on islands of higher ground surrounded by thick mud and filth water," said Liz Satow, a World Vision aid worker responding to the disaster. "Many have built makeshift shelters out of grass and twigs, which can't provide adequate protection from the torrential rains we're continuing to experience here."

To fund an initial three-month relief response, World Vision is seeking $2 million from private and public sources.

The Christian humanitarian agency has so far assisted some 70,000 people with food, tents, water purification kits, survival kits, latrine slabs, soap, water tanks and mosquito nets. Over 150 metric tonnes of food to communities in the city of Mutarara were distributed.

Yet the needs remain acute, as the majority of displaced families have lost their maize harvests along with their homes. The rainy season continues through late March, making it impossible for most families to return home until then. Continued rains could also cause further flooding.

World Vision has worked in Mozambique since the mid 1980s, and is continuing its long-term development programmes alongside its current flood response.