The international humanitarian organization Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on Friday expressed grave concern about the intensifying crisis in Mozambique, which has compounded an already dire humanitarian situation. In a statement, NRC said it has had to suspend much of its relief operations as movement in the field remains too dangerous.
“Across the country, people are struggling to survive amid multiple, compounding crises: conflict, severe hunger, and climate shocks are affecting millions. In the north alone, over one million people are already devastated by conflict,” said Ulrika Blom, NRC's country director in Mozambique.
An estimated 2.3 million children, women and men in Mozambique are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance this year, most of them in Cabo Delgado and the neighboring provinces of Niassa and Nampula.
Since 2017, attacks by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) against civilians and clashes with security forces in northern Mozambique have resulted in significant civilian casualties and exacerbated widespread food insecurity in Cabo Delgado and surrounding areas.
In Mozambique, approximately 3.3 million people face severe acute food insecurity (IPC phase 3 or worse) between October 2024 and March 2025. Of these, 773,000 are estimated to be in emergency levels of hunger (IPC phase 4). Some 144,000 children under the age of five are estimated to be acutely malnourished.
The main drivers of food insecurity in Mozambique are the impact of an El Niño-induced drought and other climate-related shocks, as well as the conflict in northern Mozambique, including the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula.
The Southern Africa region is currently facing its worst hunger crisis in decades. A widespread drought in the region in 2023-2024, triggered by the El Niño weather pattern, has left 27 million people in several countries at crisis levels of hunger. While Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are the hardest hit, parts of Mozambique are also severely affected.
At the same time, in the north of the country, some 583,000 people were still internally displaced due to violence by armed groups as of July 2024. Most of them, some 541,000 women, men and children, remained displaced in Cabo Delgado. Meanwhile, some 576,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes as of August 2024.
Clashes between NSAGs and the Mozambican Security and Defense Forces (FADM), with support from the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF), are continuing in Cabo Delgado. Violence and military operations have severely restricted access to people in need of humanitarian assistance. The escalation of violence has forced NRC to suspend much of its life-saving assistance, as operations on the ground remain too dangerous.
“If this continues, thousands of displaced families will lose access to critical aid. The disruptions to daily life and essential services are pushing the most vulnerable into greater insecurity, with severely limited options for safety and support,” Blom said.
“We urge all parties to uphold civilians’ safety and security and to ensure safe, unrestricted access for humanitarian organizations to reach people in need. For NRC and other aid agencies, maintaining humanitarian space is paramount for reaching affected communities effectively and impartially.”
The non-governmental organization (NGO) calls on the international community to "address the chronic neglect of the humanitarian crisis in Mozambique."
Humanitarian operations in the country remain woefully underfunded. This year's Mozambique Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which targets 1.7 million vulnerable people, is only 38 percent funded, forcing agencies such as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to slash critical food assistance.
“This neglect only deepens the despair and instability that we are witnessing. Now, more than ever, Mozambicans need the world’s attention and support,” Blom added.
Mozambique is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Over a million people are affected by the conflict in northern Mozambique, while millions of others are affected by ongoing or recurring climate shocks.
While the humanitarian crisis in the country has been largely ignored by the international community, Mozambique has received some attention in the news following its recent presidential election. Ruling party candidate Daniel Chapo won Mozambique's presidential election with more than 70 percent of the vote, according to official results released Thursday by Mozambique's National Electoral Commission.
Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane came in second with just over 20 percent of the vote in the October 9 poll. The candidate of Renamo, Mozambique's traditional main opposition party, finished a distant third with less than 6 percent of the vote. The results consolidate the hold on power that the Frelimo party has had since Mozambique's independence in 1975.
Runner-up Mondlane has said the vote was rigged and has called for a two-day national shutdown and peaceful protests. Opposition supporters took to the streets of the Mozambican capital late on Thursday, and the protests continued on Friday. Hundreds have been arrested, according to media reports.
Earlier this week, police fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators in Maputo. The protests were sparked by the assassinations last weekend of two prominent opposition figures, Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe.
Although the European Union (EU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer missions have yet to make final assessments of the Oct. 9 election, the EU mission said this week that some of its 179 observers were prevented from observing the tabulation process in some districts and provinces and at the national level.
The EU mission also said its observers witnessed "unjustified alteration" of election results at some polling stations. The National Electoral Commission says all cases of alleged irregularities during voting and counting are being investigated. The official results are not final until they are validated by Mozambique's Constitutional Council.
Further information
Full text: Mozambique: Intensifying crisis forces suspension of aid as millions affected, NRC, press release, published October 25, 2024
https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/october/mozambique-intensifying-crisis-forces-suspension-of-aid-as-millions-affected/