Nineteen thousand people were forced to flee their homes in the district of Ancuabe, Cabo Delgado province, following attacks carried out by non-state armed groups between May 1 and June 3, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed on Monday (8), according to Lusa.
According to the latest report from the United Nations agency, the violent incidents caused the displacement of 19,325 people to various villages and reception centers within Ancuabe, as well as to the neighboring districts of Montepuez and Chiúre. The figure represents a significant increase compared to the previous tally, released on May 12, which reported 13,409 displaced persons.
The largest population movements were recorded in the areas of Milamba Expansão, Nanjua A, Nanjua B, and Meza-Sede, which currently host 10,187 displaced people. Most come from the towns of Nacoja, Namacuile, Minheuene, Nanjua, and Meza, among other areas affected by insecurity.
Among the displaced are 5,658 women, 172 of whom are pregnant, and 9,519 children, including 12 unaccompanied minors. The survey also identifies 98 people with disabilities and 444 elderly people over the age of 60.
The IOM expressed concern about the increased risks faced by displaced populations, including family separation, gender-based violence, the loss of personal documents, and the worsening of psychosocial problems resulting from forced displacement.
The deterioration of the security situation in Ancuabe has intensified in recent weeks. On May 7, elements associated with the extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for attacks in the district, alleging they had destroyed a church, several shops, and about 220 homes in the village of Nacoja.
Five days earlier, insurgents had attacked the village of Minheuene, in the town of Mazeze, where they destroyed the São Luís de Monfort mission, founded in 1946 and considered one of the symbols of the Catholic presence in the region. The attack also resulted in the destruction of dozens of homes and the abduction of at least 22 people.
Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency since October 2017. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), 2,397 violent incidents have been recorded since the start of the conflict, of which 2,214 involved groups associated with Islamic State Mozambique. During the same period, the violence is believed to have caused at least 6,624 deaths.
The persistence of the attacks continues to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the north of the country, increasing pressure on host communities and the resources available to assist displaced populations.
