A new report by the United Nations (UN) reveals that Mozambique is among the countries with a high risk of acute food insecurity, estimating that around 773,000 Mozambicans will face critical levels of hunger between October 2024 and March 2025.
The study, conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), identifies the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, and the impacts of the La Niña climate phenomenon, which could intensify extreme events such as cyclones, tropical storms and floods, as the main factors worsening food insecurity.
The situation in Cabo Delgado, affected by violence and worsening security conditions, has deteriorated especially since the withdrawal of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in 2024, according to the report.
During the first half of this year, the intensification of the conflict generated more than 160,000 displaced people, a significant increase on the same period last year.
The La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to intensify between November and April, could aggravate the crisis by causing natural disasters that affect agriculture and livelihoods, especially in the most vulnerable regions. This scenario places Mozambique among the 22 countries and territories where food insecurity is expected to increase in intensity and severity, the report warns.
The increase in food insecurity in the country is an urgent concern, with thousands of people at risk due not only to violence, but also to climate vulnerability. The UN emphasises the need for international assistance to support Mozambican communities in facing this double threat.