(Adnkronos) – In Mozambique, in a few weeks, over 25,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. This figure adds to the approximately 1.3 million people who, forced by armed conflict, cyclones and drought, have been uprooted from their homes. With some crucial funding running out, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, like other humanitarian actors, is raising the alarm because the ability to protect and assist those in urgent need is at its limit. The province of Cabo Delgado, which hosts important gas reserves and other precious natural resources such as gems and minerals, is not only the base of multinational companies, but also the epicenter of an ongoing conflict in which internally displaced persons are increasing.
Attacks by non-state armed groups against civilians and infrastructure continue, forcing people to flee and disrupting efforts to find possible solutions and development strategies. Thousands of people have lost their homes, many for the second or third time, and are seeking safety in other already overburdened communities. The intensification of the conflict is spreading to new provinces located in areas that were considered relatively stable in the past.
The districts of Ancuabe and Montepuez, located in northern Mozambique, are among the most affected, and last month recorded 14,929 and 5,370 new displaced persons respectively. In Niassa province, where displaced people had previously been limited, more than 2,000 people have been forced to flee since March 19. These developments come at a time of extreme tension for the humanitarian response in Mozambique. Organizations are facing increasingly shrinking budgets across all sectors, while the needs of the population continue to grow. The result is a dangerous equation: less funding and more people in difficulty. Mozambique is simultaneously facing a triple crisis: armed conflict and people fleeing, increasing frequency of extreme weather events and months of post-election unrest.
Cyclone Jude, which hit Nampula province two months ago, was the third major tornado to hit the country in just three months. These storms devastated areas where families displaced by armed conflict had taken refuge, exacerbating already heavy humanitarian needs. The civil unrest of late 2024 had led some Mozambicans to seek help in neighboring Malawi. Most of them later returned voluntarily, but the experience remains a stark reminder of the fragility of the situation. In total, there are 5.2 million people in the country in need of humanitarian assistance.
In this difficult context, UNHCR’s response capacity is severely limited by a critical lack of funds. Protection needs, including support for survivors of gender-based violence, mental health services and access to civil documents, far exceed available resources. UNHCR is concerned about the impact of funding cuts for the humanitarian response to refugees. So far, the UN agency has received only 32% of the $42.7 million requested. In addition to the 710,000 internally displaced persons in the country and the more than 600,000 who have returned to their districts of origin, Mozambique hosts about 25,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to lack of funds, in the Maratane refugee settlement in Nampula province, UNHCR may be forced to suspend support for essential services such as health care and education.
The government and people of Mozambique have repeatedly demonstrated a remarkable commitment to welcoming and assisting refugees and internally displaced persons, despite the country being among the poorest in the world. Local communities have shown extraordinary solidarity. However, it is neither fair nor realistic to expect Mozambique to continue to bear the brunt of such a complex crisis alone. The triple emergency is now fueling a silent economic crisis. Food prices, already very high, have often risen by 10-20% in recent months, while people’s incomes continue to decline. High public debt limits the government’s ability to intervene. A perfect storm is brewing. If UNHCR were to walk away, the country would face an even worse humanitarian emergency. Faced with this crisis we have a choice: We can act to prevent, support and protect or stand idly by.
