A Fast-Growing Displacement Crisis
The conflict in northern Mozambique is driving one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises.
It all began in October 2017, when an Islamist extremist group launched attacks on the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The group, known as Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama, has since carried violent attacks on innocent people, government forces, and military installations.
By May 2021, more than 732, 000 people had been uprooted from their homes (source: OCHA), and in Cabo Delgado alone, nearly 1 in every 3 people are now internally displaced. Many have had to flee multiple times (source: RELIEFWEB).
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.
With a population of approximately 28 million (INE, 2017), of which 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).
What is the situation really like?
The situation can only be described as desperate and chaotic. More and more people arrive by foot, bus or boat every day across eight districts, making living conditions even more crammed and uninhabitable. On top of this, there is also an active cholera outbreak in some districts.
Over 540,000 displaced people in Northern Mozambique are still in urgent need of basic shelter and lack the most critical household items.
Communities bearing the brunt of this conflict need emergency shelter as soon as possible.
How is ShelterBox helping?
We are working with our partner CARE Mozambique to support vulnerable communities.
There are huge logistical challenges around delivering aid in Mozambique, but we’re committed to reaching people who urgently need support.
We’ll be providing shelter kits, blankets, solar lights, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, and mosquito nets to families who urgently need shelter and aid.