The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD) is currently assisting 200,000 people experiencing food insecurity due to the drought affecting several regions of the country.
This humanitarian crisis was anticipated in the INGD’s contingency plan, which expects that around 3.3 million people will be directly or indirectly affected by the drought linked to the El Niño phenomenon, forecasted for this rainy and cyclonic season (2023-2024).
The information was recently made public in Maputo by INGD Vice President Gabriel Monteiro, in an interview with AIM, during discussions on community engagement for durable solutions in assisting displaced persons in Mozambique. This event included partners from the United Nations, UNHCR, and UN-HABITAT.
“At the moment, we are assisting 200,000 people facing food insecurity. We are providing these individuals with all necessary support. We hope not to reach a situation where 3.3 million people need assistance. Therefore, last month, we met with partners to find solutions to mitigate the drought,” Monteiro emphasized.
Besides the drought, INGD is also assisting displaced persons, both from natural disasters and insecurity in Cabo Delgado, in the northern region. Official records indicate about 1.4 million people in this condition, with around 70,000 requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.
“We have outlined a national contingency plan to assist 2.9 million people, requiring about 14 billion meticais. We do not have this amount, facing a deficit of 7.5 billion. We are mobilizing funds and are hopeful that we will reduce the deficit,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the government frequently faces pressure on basic services, infrastructure, and housing supply due to tensions from conflicts and extreme weather events, which exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the most affected populations.
This situation is more pronounced in host communities, forcing more people to live in informal settlements or inadequate housing, leading to environmental consequences and associated social tensions.
The scenario underscores the need to strengthen the link between sustainable urbanization and durable displacement solutions, a key objective of UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and programs in Mozambique, particularly in the central and northern regions.
UN-Habitat’s approach in Mozambique includes technical assistance and support to the government, civil society, host and displaced communities, and the private sector at various scales.
AIM
