Maputo, July 7, 2025 (Lusa) - The UN warns that northern Mozambique experienced a “deepening” humanitarian crisis in June, caused by funding shortages, natural disasters and escalating armed violence in Cabo Delgado province.
“The escalation of violence by non-state armed groups continued to cause new displacements, disturb essential services, perturb free movement, exacerbate food insecurity, and hinder the delivery of vital assistance,” according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado in the north of the country has been facing an armed rebellion since 2017, which has left thousands dead and caused a humanitarian crisis with more than a million people displaced.
The new movements of extremists in northern Mozambique include Niassa, a province neighbouring Cabo Delgado, where, since their outbreak on 29 April, they have caused at least two deaths: the extremists beheaded two forest rangers.
According to OCHA, on 24 June, 568 people, including 324 children, fled attacks by armed groups in the village of Quinto Congresso, in the district of Macomia, towards the “already overcrowded” district headquarters, bringing the total number of people displaced by the conflict to 48,000 since 1 January, many urgently requiring food, shelter, necessities and drinking water.
“The conflict continues to shape people’s protection needs. In early 2025, Cabo Delgado saw a 22% increase in reported cases of gender-based violence compared to 2024, due to improved reporting and growing awareness. Still, it also highlights the gender-specific impact of the conflict,” it explains.
The document added that the government has facilitated the return of populations to their areas of origin in the districts of Macomia, Metuge and Montepuez in Cabo Delgado, and recently in Mecula in Niassa, “largely because humanitarian assistance has been limited and displacement sites have become overcrowded.”
According to OCHA, the returning population finds their areas of origin in need of reconstruction, “because destroyers razed their homes, agricultural plots and livelihoods, and authorities have not yet restored basic services”, and those who opted for resettlement “found that the proposed sites still require essential services”.
The United Nations agency also pointed to the persistence of post-cyclone “needs and gaps”, explaining that, with funding constraints, people affected by the three cyclones, which, in addition to destroying thousands of homes and infrastructure, caused around 175 deaths in the north and centre of the country, still require adequate assistance.
“Initial assessments carried out since March in the districts of Lalaua and Muecate in Nampula revealed that a total of 70,000 people need assistance after the cyclones,” it said.
OCHA highlights an opportunity: humanitarian funding could rise again after a 26% decline between 2024 and 2025, from $74 million (€62.8 million) to $55 million (€46.7m).
“As a result, around 260,000 people now require access to hygiene services, while 200,000 people still need adequate shelter (...). In addition, authorities have abruptly halted the laboratory sample collection programme, which served 25,000 people per month, mainly people with HIV and tuberculosis,” it adds.
LYCE/ADB // ADB.
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