Mozambique: Humanitarian crisis expected to persist, even increase – UNHCR

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Mozambique: Humanitarian crisis expected to persist, even increase – UNHCR

4:20 CAT | 18 Nov 2020

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the violence and humanitarian crisis should persist and even increase in northern Mozambique, with no sign of a reversal of the scenario, according to a document.

Cabo Delgado province, in the north of Mozambique, has been the target of attacks for three years by armed groups, some claimed by the jihadist Islamic State.

“Three years since the first attack there have been few signs of change in the trend of violence and population flight,” the UNHCR said, pointing out that the need to shelter internally displaced people will persist and increase, in a context of scarcity of resources in the region where Africa’s largest private investment for natural gas extraction is emerging.

Currently, there is a need for greater monitoring and other actions to address human rights concerns, he said in the document, in which it calls for increased funding.

“The new UNHCR financial requirements for the emergency response to the situation in Cabo Delgado in 2020-2021 total $19.2 million (€16 million), with 39% of the needs funded by 13 November,” it said.

The response aims to benefit 300,000 people in Cabo Delgado and neighbouring provinces that shelter internally displaced people.

Priority actions include an increase in risk case management, support for survivors of gender-based violence and the provision of psychosocial support to victims of trauma.

UNHCR also wants to strengthen the distribution of what is called essential items, including shelter, because they are a high priority to ensure security and reduce the risk of unprotection for displaced persons and families.

Armed violence is causing a humanitarian crisis with some 2,000 deaths and 435,000 displaced people, without housing or enough food – mainly concentrated in the provincial capital, Pemba.

Source: Lusa