The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Monday, June 1, that the situation of children in Mozambique continues to be “deeply affected by overlapping crises,” with malnutrition, poverty, and child marriage among the main challenges.
“The situation of children in Mozambique continues to be profoundly shaped by overlapping crises: armed conflict, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and poverty, all of which simultaneously affect children’s survival, learning, and protection,” the organization said, according to Lusa.
In a report released on the occasion of International Children’s Day, the UN agency recalled that around 1.8 million people in Mozambique, including one million children, require urgent assistance this year amid a context of high climate and security vulnerability. UNICEF warned that this combination of factors makes childhood particularly exposed to multiple forms of deprivation and risk.
“Among the main challenges are malnutrition, poverty, violence against children, unequal access to basic services, and harmful practices such as child marriage and teenage pregnancy, as well as the conflict in the north, which continues to keep more than 400,000 people displaced, over half of them children, alongside recurring climate shocks,” the report stated.
UNICEF also warned that 70% of schools are located in high climate-risk areas, with recent floods keeping thousands of children out of school and increasing the risk of child marriage, child labor, and exploitation.
“Violence also remains a serious concern: available data indicate that one in seven girls and one in 12 boys experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, while nearly one in four girls and more than one in three boys reported physical violence during childhood. In addition, 2.1 million people are facing food insecurity,” the agency added.
Despite the enormous challenges, the UN agency highlighted important progress in key areas for children. Last year alone, 19.3 million children were reached through national polio vaccination campaigns, and 2.97 million girls were vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
“A total of 65,756 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition, achieving a recovery rate of 79%. In education, 262,711 children gained access to learning opportunities in crisis-affected areas. Regarding social protection, 774,857 births were registered, 276,337 children and caregivers received psychosocial support, and 392 children formerly associated with armed groups benefited from reintegration assistance,” UNICEF reported.
However, despite these achievements, the Fund emphasized that child marriage remains one of the areas requiring the greatest intervention. Nearly half of all girls marry before the age of 18, compromising their education and exposing them to early pregnancy.
“Girls who become mothers at a very young age face a higher risk of maternal mortality, while their children are more likely to die, suffer from malnutrition, and grow up in poverty, perpetuating the cycle of deprivation.”
According to UNICEF, priority actions should focus on saving lives and ensuring the continuity of essential services for children, particularly in emergency situations. These include strengthening nutritional support, improving access to healthcare, education, clean water, and child protection services, as well as enhancing preparedness for future crises.
