Mozambique: Poorest refugees start arriving in Pemba – Lusa

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Mozambique: Poorest refugees start arriving in Pemba – Lusa

9:23 CAT | 30 Mar 2021

Photo: Lusa

The poorest population of Palma, which is also the largest, began arriving en masse in Pemba today, by special flights and boat, following the attack on the town in northern Mozambique, sources from humanitarian organisations said.

Since Sunday, some 2,000 people had already arrived in Pemba, mainly employees of the gas project and workers from other companies and services, according to data from different sources, but without official confirmation.

Today it was the turn of the most vulnerable population that survived days of panic and hunger in the bush – excluding the injured and the weakest who have been transported in aircraft since Friday.

Nearly 200 people began disembarking at Pemba airport this afternoon, in an operation that continues, while the port is preparing the disembarkation of another 160 people who arrived by boat.

Both the Mozambican authorities and private companies are mobilising resources to help local staff and their families.

At the airport, various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies welcomed the displaced persons.

Some of them were waiting for their families who live in Pemba. Others were waiting for instructions from the authorities to be taken to shelter areas.

A ship carrying about a thousand displaced people from Palma is scheduled to arrive in Pemba on Wednesday morning.

The United Nations is one of the organisations organising an airlift from Afungi with small planes. Still, all information about the ongoing operation is deliberately sparse because armed groups remain a threat in the Palma area – and Afungi is only half a dozen kilometres away. Since Wednesday, the displaced in Afungi will be only a part of the thousands fleeing and have advanced in different directions through the bush since Wednesday, some reaching the border with Tanzania, 50 kilometres to the north.

A source linked to rescue and security operations told Lusa that there are still refugee populations on beaches in the district of Palma awaiting transport and that there are still no clear signs of control of the town by military forces, although there are ongoing operations.

Unlike what happened after other attacks by rebel groups in 2020, this time, there has not been a mass arrival of crowded craft boats on the beaches of Pemba.

The violence is causing a humanitarian crisis with almost 700,000 displaced people and more than 2,000 deaths. On Monday, the Islamic State terrorist movement claimed control of the town of Palma, near the border with Tanzania.

Several countries have offered military support on the ground to Maputo to fight these insurgents. Still, so far, there has been no opening for this, although there are reports and testimonies that point to security companies and mercenaries in the area.

Source: Lusa