Mozambique: Government warns of danger of terrorist infiltration – DW

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Government warns of danger of terrorist infiltration – DW

3:46 CAT | 31 Mar 2021

File photo: DW

Hundreds of displaced people continue to arrive in Pemba fleeing insecurity in the Mozambican town of Palma, and the Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado is concerned there may be terrorists among the victims.

Secretary of State for Cabo Delgado, Armindo Ngunga, has drawn the attention of those involved in the process of disembarking the displaced to the necessity for preventing terrorists moving about disguised as victims.

“This is war. These boats and planes are bringing victims, but they can also bring people who were on the other side. They can bring terrorists,” Ngunga said.

The Secretary of State stresses that one cannot be too careful in this regard.

“One must carry out scrutiny with a fine-toothed comb, and conduct searches. Nothing can be allowed to fail, or we will be accommodating terrorists here. Our defence and security personnel must do their job, and we must let them do it,” he added.

A week ago, terrorists invaded the district headquarters of Palma, causing casualties, destruction and panic among the local population. Since then, a wave of displaced people has arrived in Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado.

Escalating crisis

The Secretary of State in Cabo Delgado called an emergency meeting for Tuesday (30 March) with the humanitarian agencies operating in the province, to discuss how to deal with the escalating crisis.

Representatives of the humanitarian agencies reaffirmed their readiness to assist those arriving, and the availability of the necessary human and material resources.

“We have to quickly identify the most vulnerable groups among those fleeing the conflict in Palma,” said Eduardo Burmeister, one of the representatives.

The International Committee of the Red Cross expects to take delivery in April of 3,000 family kits, each consisting of a tarpaulin, two blankets, two mosquito nets, two mats, two bars of soap, a bucket and a kitchen set.

But for assistance to the victims of terrorism in Palma to be delivered in an orderly manner, humanitarian organizations and the government will have to cooperate more closely.

“We have to define procedures so as to avoid unnecessary congestion at the port. Some can intervene on arrival, others can intervene later; this is the type of organization we need,” the Secretary of State said.

Source: Deutsche Welle