The United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, on Sunday, October 29, highlighted the resilience of the people affected by terrorism in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, stressing that they remain determined, even in the face of humanitarian challenges.
“These are people who have been through a lot, but even so, they keep going, which shows resilience,” she said, quoted by Lusa, moments after laying a wreath in Mozambican Heroes’ Square, as part of her working visit to the country.
According to Msuya, her work plan includes a meeting with the communities, organizations and partners working on the humanitarian response to meet the needs of those affected.
“The secretary-general has a one-week work agenda. She intends to visit Cabo Delgado, hold meetings with various government officials, including the deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Manuel José Gonçalves,” Lusa reported.
The province of Cabo Delgado has been affected by a conflict since 2017 that has terrified the population. Groups of armed rebels have pillaged and massacred villages and towns all over the province and a variety of attacks have been claimed by the ‘arm’ of the self-proclaimed Islamic State in that region. The conflict has already caused more than 4,000 deaths (data from The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project) and at least one million displaced people, according to an assessment made by the Mozambican authorities.
Mozambican government figures indicate that at least 70% of the population displaced by the war has returned to the province, as a result of the restoration of security in the face of armed groups operating in the region.
