3 August 2025
The displacement is the latest
consequence of a cascade of overlapping emergencies in the
country – including armed violence, climate shocks,
disease outbreaks and a severe funding shortfall. Since
January, over 95,000 people have fled insecurity in Cabo
Delgado and humanitarian access is becoming increasingly
fragile.
According to the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), attacks by
armed groups between 20 and 28 July triggered the
displacement of at least 46,667 people across the districts
of Chiúre, Ancuabe and Muidumbe.
Chiúre was the
hardest hit, with more than 42,000 people uprooted – over
half of them children.
“Insecurity persists, and
people on the move often lack civil documentation,” OCHA
said in a humanitarian bulletin on Saturday. “These
challenges may impact the ability of displaced people to
move freely, safely access basic services and maintain their
livelihoods.”
Children separated from
families
Attacks in Chiúre Velho, Ocua and Mazeze
have driven families to Chiúre Sede, where they are
sheltering in overcrowded conditions in the neighbourhoods
of Bairro Micone and Bairro Namicir. Reports indicate a high
number of unaccompanied or separated children.
Food,
shelter and essential non-food items are reported as the
most urgent needs, according to humanitarian
partners.
The security situation in Ancuabe district
also deteriorated rapidly. According to the UN International
Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of displaced
families nearly tripled in one week, reaching 444 households
(1,946 people), including over 1,200 children. The violence
forced residents of Nanduli village to seek refuge in Chiote
and Ancuabe Sede.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
In Muidumbe, fighters reportedly
torched homes in Magaia village and opened fire near Mungue.
Nearly 500 families fled to nearby displacement sites, where
humanitarian access remains limited.
Protection
concerns, limited funding
OCHA stressed that under
international law, civilians must be allowed to seek safety
and freely choose their destination. But insecurity, lack of
documentation and involuntary relocations are compounding
protection risks.
At the same time, the aid response
remains severely underfunded.
As of July, only 19 per
cent of Mozambique’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has
been funded. Of the $352 million requested, just $66 million
has been received – forcing agencies to reduce their
response targets by over 70 per cent. They now aim to assist
only 317,000 people, down from the target of 1.1 million at
the start of the year.
“Urgent and sustained funding
is essential to prevent further deterioration and address
the escalating humanitarian needs that remain as acute and
widespread as ever,” the OCHA report
warned.
