The United Nations (UN) recently welcomed Mozambique’s progress in managing internally displaced people, due to the effects caused by terrorism and climate change, and called for greater leadership and decentralised interventions to address humanitarian issues and needs.
“I am encouraged by the early warning and response policies designed to strengthen disaster management, promote reconstruction in conflict-affected areas and improve responses in situations of internal displacement,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Paula Betancur, quoted in a statement released on Monday (27) by the humanitarian information portal, ReliefWeb.
In the document, the expert said that “disasters fuelled by the adverse effects of climate change are a recurring threat in the country, and that it is essential to accelerate the reconstruction of resilient infrastructure in resettlement areas and relocate disaster-prone populations to higher ground, while providing adequate livelihood opportunities”.
Northern Mozambique has suffered large-scale internal displacement due to the ongoing armed conflict and the violence perpetrated by terrorists, which is why she recommended greater coherence, coordination and complementarity in the humanitarian response. “Reconstruction and development interventions must be closely coordinated with the government and local communities.”
However, Paula Betancur said that significant protection challenges remain, especially in the country’s northern provinces. “There are still several concerns raised by internally displaced people; these are issues of civil documentation, access to livelihoods, housing, land and property, physical security, mental health services and psychosocial support.”
“Mozambique is at an opportune moment to resolve the existing impediments and achieve the lasting solutions that internally displaced people deserve,” he concluded.