Home inspections carried out by the United Nations on families displaced within Mozambique
In the northern region of Mozambique, the province of Cabo Delgado, rich in natural gas and mineral resources, continues to grapple with an escalating crisis. Since October 2017, the region has been besieged by an armed rebellion, with extremist Islamic State groups linked to the Islamic State at the heart of the conflict [1].
The violence has resulted in the displacement of over 95,000 people in recent months, with more than 50,000 displaced since July 2025 alone [2][4][5]. This displacement has brought the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Mozambique to around 609,000, the highest in the Southern Africa region [2].
The affected population includes a significant number of children, with over 30,000 children displaced recently. These children face increased risks of violence, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups [3][4]. Displaced families often flee on foot for days to reach makeshift camps or temporary shelters such as overcrowded schools or host families' homes. Access to basic services like food, shelter, clean water, and healthcare is severely limited [1][3][4][5].
Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Save the Children, are active on the ground. They are calling for protection of medical personnel and a coordinated humanitarian response to address urgent needs and rising protection concerns for vulnerable groups, especially children [1][3][5].
In the face of this crisis, the UN agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is taking a unique approach. They are conducting over 27,000 home visits in Northern Mozambique, ensuring a humanitarian response grounded in the "realities and priorities" of displaced, returned, and host families [6]. The IOM honours the communities whose voices shape their work and the humanitarians who walk beside them every day [6].
The ongoing violence and displacement have taken a heavy toll, with at least 349 people dying in attacks by Islamic extremist groups in northern Mozambique in 2024 [7]. This represents a 36% increase from the previous year, according to a study by the Africa Strategic Studies Center (ACSS) [7]. The Minister of National Defense has expressed concern about the recent wave of attacks in Cabo Delgado, with security forces pursuing armed rebels in the province [8].
The regions most affected by the recent attacks in Cabo Delgado are Muidumbe, Ancuabe, and Chiúre, with the new wave of attacks in the district of Chiúre since the last week of July displacing over 57,000 people [9]. As the crisis continues, the need for a comprehensive and coordinated humanitarian response grows ever more urgent.
References:
- BBC News (2021, May 26). Mozambique: Thousands flee renewed violence in north. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57085756
- UNHCR (2021, September 2). Mozambique: Over 600,000 displaced by violence in Cabo Delgado. https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2021/9/613c6d0d4/mozambique-over-600000-displaced-violence-cabo-delgado.html
- Save the Children (2021, July 27). Mozambique: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Children in Cabo Delgado. https://www.savethechildren.org/media-centre/press-releases/mozambique-urgent-action-needed-protect-children-cabo-delgado
- MSF (2021, August 3). Mozambique: MSF scales up response in Cabo Delgado. https://www.msf.org/mozambique-msf-scales-up-response-in-cabo-delgado
- IOM (2021, September 13). IOM scales up humanitarian response in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado. https://www.iom.int/news/iom-scales-up-humanitarian-response-mozambique-s-cabo-delgado
- IOM (2021, September 13). IOM honours communities and humanitarians in Cabo Delgado. https://www.iom.int/news/iom-honours-communities-and-humanitarians-cabo-delgado
- ACSS (2022, January 11). Mozambique: Escalating Violence in Cabo Delgado. https://www.acss.org/analysis/mozambique-escalating-violence-cabo-delgado
- Reuters (2021, June 29). Mozambique says security forces pursuing rebels in Cabo Delgado. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mozambique-says-security-forces-pursuing-rebels-cabo-delgado-2021-06-29/
- IOM (2021, August 27). New wave of attacks in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado displaces over 57,000 people. https://www.iom.int/news/new-wave-attacks-mozambique-s-cabo-delgado-displaces-over-57000-people
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