New wave of attacks displaces over 17,000 in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado: UN

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – More than 17,000 people have fled their homes in the past week due to the latest wave of attacks in Mozambique's restive northern province of Cabo Delgado, a UN official said Thursday.

The UN Humanitarian Air Service is flying in aid supplies for some of the displaced, according to Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“Our partners are also prepositioning food, education and hygiene kits,” he said.

“Since the beginning of the year, we, along with our partners, have reached 100,000 people in Cabo Delgado. We are targeting to reach 84,000 people with regular humanitarian assistance in the Ancuabe and Meluco districts.”

The displaced, mainly women and children, reportedly fled the northern district of Ancuabe, 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the port city of Pemba, the province's capital, as well as from Chiure district following a series of attacks in early June.

Dujarric, who indicated that humanitarian organizations have helped more than 1,700 people so far, called on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect civilians as well as facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

“It is also critical that vulnerable people, including the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women and unaccompanied or separated children, are reached with food, shelter, protection and other urgent aid as quickly as possible,” he said.

The southern African nation of Mozambique has been battling an armed insurgency in Cabo Delgado since 2017, with analysts attributing it to the wider socioeconomic and political disparity.

In July 2021, Rwanda deployed up to 1,000 troops to Mozambique.

The 16-nation Southern African Development Community also deployed a military force to Mozambique to bolster the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and acts of violent extremism.

Earlier this year, President Filipe Nyusi said the region has suffered fewer attacks since the deployment of more than 3,100 foreign troops last year.

The regional forces said in a statement Monday that they had killed several terrorists in an operation.