The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on December 18th local time that non-governmental armed groups continue to be active in Cape Delgadou Province in northern Mozambique.
According to the government’s estimates, more than 530,000 civilians have been displaced, a nearly fivefold increase compared with March this year.
UNHCR spokesman Balosh said that the above-mentioned more than 530,000 displaced civilians are mainly scattered in Cape Delgadu and the neighboring provinces of Nampra, Zambesia and Nyasa, and the number is increasing every day.
The vast majority of people seek asylum in the relatively safe southern part of Cape Delgadu Province, 90 percent of whom are hosted by local communities and relatives and friends.
The conflict in northern Mozambique began in 2017 and has killed more than 2,000 people so far.
Since the beginning of this year, the crisis has intensified rapidly, with thousands of people fleeing their homes every month to escape attacks.
Over the past few days, the number of attacks in Palma, Nangade and Vancommia in Cape Delgadu Province has increased significantly, and many people have been forced to flee multiple times and are deteriorating.
Baroš said that UNHCR is currently assessing and responding to the main needs of displaced groups and host communities, and monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure that basic international humanitarian principles can be upheld.
UNHCR’s support assistance to the Government of Mozambique includes materials for the construction of temporary shelters, as well as core relief supplies such as tarpaulin, sleeping mats, blankets, kitchen utensils, buckets, oil drums and solar lamps.
At present, about 20,000 people have received relief supplies, and thousands more people will receive assistance in the coming months.
