The Mozambican government and the United Nations announced here on Friday a 250-million-U.S. dollar humanitarian response plan for the 1.1 million people affected by terrorism in three northern provinces of the country.
The support is expected to supply the deficit indicated for the necessary contingency plan throughout 2021 to be applied in Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula provinces.
The Director General of the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) Luisa Meque said at the launching ceremony that the people affected by terrorism in the country are still facing enormous challenges for the rapid normalization of their lives.
“So we urge everyone, within their possibilities, to continue to show their solidarity to the people affected, contributing with means and assets that allow for continued humanitarian assistance and rapid post-disaster reconstruction,” said Meque.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mozambique, Myrta Kaulard, also pointed out at the ceremony that every effort is needed to ensure a minimum decent life for the affected people.
“People were forced to leave their homes with nothing more than the clothes they wore. They lost their belongings, their livelihood, and their future. Humanitarian aid is vital to alleviate their suffering,” said Kaulard.
Terrorism in Cabo Delgado province poses a real threat to the country, with the potential to expand to other regions of the continent and the world, said the Mozambican foreign minister Veronica Macamo at the ceremony.
“Therefore, we are convinced that the ultimate solution to the problem also includes the involvement of the international community,” she said.
According to the government, about 80 percent of the displaced people who were farmers have stopped food producing, increasing the risk of food insecurity in the region.
