UN raises alert for 780,000 people displaced in Mozambique, most due to violence in north
FILE PHOTO - Internally displaced persons from Cabo Delgado Illustrative photo . [Deutsche Welle]
There are days of great anguish and despair which will probably never be erased from the memories of the 21 people kidnapped in early January on the island of Matemo, district of Ibo.
They spent several days in the forest, without food, but were rescued last week in Olumbua, Macomia district, by the Defence and Security Forces (FDS). On Monday (18-01), they returned home.
Those rescued lacked words to describe their enormous joy. “I thank you very much for returning me to my land. I have already found my family and all my friends,” one child said.
“I am very happy, I came home with all my family and we are all in good health,” another of those rescued said.
Authorities call for vigilance and unity
On the day those rescued returned home, Cabo Delgado governor Valige Tauabo called for increased vigilance on the island of Matemo to prevent the invaders from returning.
“Our soldiers are in the woods at work, without sleeping or eating. So I am asking: my mothers, my fathers and our young people, we are going to be united and not let this war go on,” the governor appealed.
“As long as we do not support our soldiers, the work they are doing is not going to go well,” Tauabo said.
Community police in Matemo say they are on the lookout to protect the island.
Difficulties
Violence in the centre and north of Cabo Delgado province has already displaced more than 560,000 people. One of the authorities’ main concerns is ensuring that these people have access to health services, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, during a health sector meeting convened to outline strategies to deal with health problems in Cabo Delgado, district administrators told the Minister of Health about the difficult conditions in which resettled families find themselves.
“Right now, we have a lot of displaced people, and they are being resettled far from the health centres,” Metuge administrator António Valério said. “We have, for example, Intocota, which is about 25 kilometres away, and it is very complicated for patients to access health care quickly. The transportation of patients is not possible.”
Ancuabe district administrator Lúcia Namashulua asked for more support, noting that “the APs [community health workers] are not state employees, and do not have the same obligation to assist the sick full-time that an employee has”.
She was therefore seeking, “if there was a possibility”, either that the number of CHWs be increased or their subsidy likewise, “so that we can assist our displaced families”.
Promise
In response to the concerns raised, Minister of Health Armindo Tiago announced funds for the speedy installation of “health porches” in the resettlement villages for the immediate care of the sick.
“We will build community porches in these places, which will be manned by the APs, who will start doing the work,” the minister promised.
“The porches will also allow mobile brigades from the health units to hold consultation visits in the community, reducing the health costs to our people.”
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