Mozambique: Displaced persons fleeing Cabo Delgado attacks barred from entering Tanzania – Audio

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Displaced persons fleeing Cabo Delgado attacks barred from entering Tanzania – Audio

4:24 CAT | 22 Nov 2019

File photo: Voa Portugues

Dozens of people fleeing armed attacks by insurgents in the northern districts of Cabo Delgado amassed on the banks of the Rovuma River yesterday after being denied entry into Tanzania by local troops, witnesses have told VOA.

“People tried to cross the Rovuma River (separating Mozambique and Tanzania), but both boats were sent back by Tanzanian forces,” a Palma resident said.

The source described the “despair” of dozens of women and children left on the river banks with their bundles of belongings.

“These are families who have left behind everything they built over several years because of fear, and now they have a hard time finding refuge somewhere safe,” local activist Selemane Algy told VOA.

There are no official statistics, but thousands of people have taken refuge in Tanzania since the attacks began in October 2017. More than 350 people have been killed and hundreds of the poor’s homes have been burned down by gunmen.

Os ataques extremistas de #CaboDelgado continuam a provocar deslocações. As pessoas estão procurando zonas mais seguras. As fotos são supostamente da Zona de Nametil-Mueda com a população local pronta para embarcar e se refugiar na vizinha #Tanzânia. pic.twitter.com/hTncJcttGU

— Alexandre (@AllexandreMZ) November 21, 2019

More attacks

Over the past two weeks, armed attacks by insurgents on remote villages in Macomia, Palma and Muidumbe districts have intensified, triggering a new wave of displaced people.

One Maganja village resident said the people were fleeing “out of fear”, because the attackers have begun raiding villages near gas projects, which have seen their security redoubled since mid-year.

“They (the insurgents) are attacking not very far from here, and close (to the gas project resettlement zone),” the same source added.

Last week eight people were killed and three wounded in an attack by gunmen in Maganja village, and yesterday (21/11), another attack took place, but no-one was hurt, another resident said.

Attempts to contact the Palma administrator failed.

By André Baptista

Source: Voa Portugues