Mozambique: UNHCR calls for action against widespread sexual abuse

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Mozambique: UNHCR calls for action against widespread sexual abuse

7:50 CAT | 09 Dec 2021

Photo: Twitter / @UNHCRMozambique

A community leader in Cabo Delgado sexually abused a displaced woman and pressured her landlord into threatening her with eviction for filing a complaint with the police, according to a report illustrating cases of abuse in northern Mozambique.

The research by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found evidence of widespread gender-based violence among people displaced by fighting in Cabo Delgado.

The document said that women and girls who resist or file complaints are threatened with being removed from humanitarian assistance distribution lists, including support in food or other forms of assistance.

Without giving figures, the study shows that abuses by rebel groups continue while people flee from conflict zones and in host sites.

“We are concerned by these serious findings,” Samuel Chakwera, UNHCR’s representative in Mozambique, said in a statement.

“We must do more to respond to this crisis and support displaced families and their host communities,” he said.

Chakwera said the scenario reflects the lack of resources for humanitarian aid.

“The crisis in Cabo Delgado faces a large gap in humanitarian support, a growing number of displaced people, shortage of funding, and a limited number of humanitarian agencies and structures to support often overstretched host communities,” he added.

The UNHCR representative said it was necessary to have robust support for the 2022 programmes so that IDPs and their host communities do not face similar gaps in vital activities.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The conflict has led to more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 817,000 displaced people, according to Mozambican authorities.

You may read, download the full report ‘A rapid assessment of the gender-based violence (GBV) situation and response in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique‘ HERE

Join us today at 12:45 for an event on #GBV and #conflict.

We will discuss the findings from our report with @UNHCRMozambique.

Find out more 👉 https://t.co/6uJANuecBf #16Days #OrangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/Ss3oYVQRQV

— Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre, LSHTM (@LSHTM_Crises) December 9, 2021

A study conducted by UNHCR + @LSHTM has found indications of widespread #GenderBasedViolence among #InternallyDisplacedPersons in #Moz.

“A Rapid Assessment of the #GenderBasedViolence Situation and Response in Cabo Delgado” was released today in Pemba.https://t.co/EGD3vGBp0Y pic.twitter.com/9AgOPXQ4za

— UNHCR Mozambique (@UNHCRMozambique) December 10, 2021