The intensification of attacks and the fear of violence in Muidumbe, in the province of Cabo Delgado, resulted in the forced displacement of 6885 people between 13 and 26 December 2024, according to the Movement Alert Report ETT 125 – Muidumbe, published by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The document, consulted on Wednesday 8 January by Diário Económico, indicates that the violence perpetrated by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG) has led many families to abandon their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring districts.
Many displaced people sought safety in other administrative posts in Muidumbe, while others went to Mueda, Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia. According to the IOM, 4523 displaced people remained in Muidumbe, accommodated in resettlement centres, temporary shelters and host communities in Miteda, Muatide and Namacande.
Another 1,073 displaced people took refuge in Mueda, specifically in the resettlement centres of Mpeme, Nandimba and Eduardo Mondlane, and in the host communities of Bairro Rovuma, Lilondo, Maputo and Maimio.
In Macomia, 874 displaced people were registered, spread across the Nanga A and Nanga B resettlement centres, as well as the host community of Napulubo. In Mocímboa da Praia, 415 displaced people were accommodated in the host communities of Nango and Josina Machel.
The IOM report emphasises that the humanitarian situation is critical, with an immediate need for humanitarian assistance for the displaced. Key informants report that food is the most urgent humanitarian need, followed by shelter and assistance with non-food items (NFIs).
The organisation says it continues to monitor the dynamics of displacement in real time in order to support humanitarian planning and response in Cabo Delgado. The Emergency Tracking Tool (ETT) has been activated to collect information on sudden and large-scale population movements, providing essential data for the humanitarian response.
Despite the temporary resettlement, insecurity persists and the displaced face difficulties in predicting the length of their stay in the host sites. The report warns that due to the prevailing security concerns in the region, the intentions of displaced families to remain in their current locations remain uncertain.
The crisis in Muidumbe is yet another chapter in the prolonged instability in Cabo Delgado, where armed groups have been carrying out attacks since 2017, forcing mass displacement and creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in northern Mozambique. With the increase in violence and the escalation of clashes, the situation of the displaced population continues to deteriorate, demanding an urgent response from the authorities and the international community.
Text: Felisberto Ruco
