The conflict in northern Mozambique is driving one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises.
Conflict across northern Mozambique has caused widespread displacement since 2017. In December 2023, rising violence as part of the ongoing conflict broke out across the Cabo Delagado province in northern Mozambique, uprooting people from their homes.
People who had already been displaced by extreme weather and conflict are having to move again as areas become unsafe because of the escalating violence. More than 70,000 people have been forced to leave their homes or shelters since the end of 2023.
The need for shelter is huge, with families sleeping outdoors, exposed to harsh weather, disease and other protection risks.
Read on to find out what is happening in Mozambique and how we’re helping.
What is happening in Mozambique?
Mozambique is one of the most unequal countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Combined with extremely high levels of poverty, this has created high levels of social tension.
In October 2017 an extremist group, known as Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama, launched attacks on the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The group has since carried violent attacks on innocent people, government forces, and military installations.
The violent attacks have been concentrated on the coast of Cabo Delgado, from Pemba city to the Tanzanian border. But, as the violence increases further, it is now beginning to spread into provinces such as Niassa.
In December 2023 rising violence in Cabo Delgado province has caused more areas to become unsafe. As a result thousands more people have had to flee their homes. Attacks happened in the harvest season, forcing people to abandon their farmlands and livestock.
Where is Mozambique?
Mozambique is a southern African nation.
With the Indian Ocean to the east, it is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Malawi, and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa to the southwest.
Mozambique has a population of approximately 28 million (INE, 2017). 68% live in rural areas and 60% live along the coastline. Livelihoods in Mozambique depend largely on natural resources.
It is estimated that 46.1% of the of the population is living below the poverty line (source: UNDP.ORG).
Who is affected?
As of March 2024, over 780,000 people have left their homes. Of these, 80% are women and children
90% of people report shelter as their most urgent need, followed by food (88%).
Most people are staying with family and friends in host communities, whose already meagre resources are strained.
The situation is desperate and chaotic. But as other crises around the world continue to escalate, more and more humanitarian agencies are reporting that they are running out of funds for their work in Cabo Delgado.
Communities bearing the brunt of this conflict need emergency shelter as soon as possible.
How is ShelterBox helping?
We are supporting vulnerable communities together with our partner CARE Mozambique. During this we have supported over 70,000 people.
There are huge logistical challenges around delivering aid in Mozambique, as many people are staying in hard to reach and high risk areas.
We are providing shelter kits, tarpaulin, solar lights, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, and mosquito nets to families who urgently need shelter and aid.
We’re reaching people who haven’t received any shelter assistance so far, and families who have been living in resettlement sites for over 6 months and whose emergency shelter items are starting to deteriorate.
Our distributions for the third phase of this project were due to begin in January, however because of rising safety concerns, we have paused the project for now. With support from our partner CARE Mozambique, we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation for when it is safe to access the affected areas again and our project will remain on hold until we can.
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