Mozambique: IDPs in Niassa want more support – and government comes forward with solutions – O País

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: IDPs in Niassa want more support – and government comes forward with solutions – O País

2:43 CAT | 17 Jan 2022

Photo: Conselho Executivo Provincial do Niassa

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the main town of Mecula, in Niassa province, need more support for simple survival. The governor acknowledged this, mentioning that conditions are being put in place for the population to practice agriculture.

The district of Mecula, in the province of Niassa, suffered seven armed attacks between November and December 2021, causing more than 3,000 people to take shelter in the local headquarters village.

Now, according to Niassa governor Judite Massengele, the executive is working to ensure that the population does not experience serious survival issues.

“At the moment, these people are not practicing agriculture, which makes them entirely dependent on donations. This demands additional effort on the part of the government,” Massengele said.

Areas are being identified where the IDPs can start growing food again, and the government, with the support of cooperation partners, will make agricultural inputs available.

“All this effort is aimed at helping these people do something to support themselves through agriculture, an activity they have been used to practicing in their areas of origin,” she explained.

The country is about two weeks away from the start of the academic year, and Governor Massengele promised that displaced students would be able to take classes. Steps were currently being taken, she said, to identify the number of students and teachers involved, and their respective needs.

“We are collecting data on the number of school-age children, then we will register them. There are teachers at the reception centre who will be able to provide the necessary support,” the governor said.

The Niassa executive is also mobilising partners to provide tents to serve as classrooms.

Massengele said that some IDPSs want to return to their areas of origin, but the executive has been asking them to remain patient until security is fully restored in the areas which were attacked.

In an exclusive interview with ‘O País’, the governor of Niassa province also said that the health care for the displaced was in the spotlight, and, if necessary, the health response would be reinforced.

By Precidonio Silvério

Source: O País