In recent weeks, the United Nations aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that 107,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Mozambique. This latest wave of displacement has brought the total number of displaced individuals in the country in the past four months to a staggering 330,000. Paola Emerson, the Head of Office in Mozambique for OCHA, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “They barely had time to recover when they again had to leave, due to attacks or fear of attacks.”
Emerson highlighted the fact that many families have been uprooted multiple times due to the ongoing violence in the region. This pattern of repeated displacement is unusual compared to previous hit-and-run tactics that were characteristic of violence in northern Cabo Delgado province in 2017. The combination of conflict and climate shocks has now led to the displacement of over 600,000 people in Mozambique, according to UN data. Shockingly, nearly nine out of 10 individuals fleeing violence have already been displaced at least once this year.
The recent wave of attacks has been particularly devastating for communities that have already been battered by three cyclones in 2025. Emerson emphasized that a vast majority of those displaced are children, making up 67% of the total. There are serious concerns about protection issues, with reports of gender-based violence and children being separated from their families or left unaccompanied.
Most displaced families are currently sheltering in overcrowded host communities, open areas, and damaged schools where exams have been disrupted in several districts. Aid distribution is falling far below the needs of the population, with only around 40% of people receiving inadequate food assistance due to major stockouts. Emerson warned that the gaps in aid are forcing some families to return to unsafe areas with little information on whether the situation has stabilized or not.
The situation in Mozambique has been further exacerbated by reports of brutal violence, including beheadings, among other horrors. UN agencies have issued repeated alerts this week, with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reporting nighttime attacks, homes being burned, and summary executions by beheading as armed groups push into previously unaffected districts. The agency highlighted severe resource shortages and described the overall response as insufficient.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also raised concerns about the impact of the crisis on children, noting that they are being pushed to their breaking point. The agency warned of staggering levels of displacement and rising grave violations, including abductions and recruitment of children. Essential services such as health, education, water, and protection are straining under the weight of the growing need, just as the cyclone season is set to intensify.
Humanitarian partners are urgently calling for funding to prevent further deterioration of the situation in Mozambique. Without rapid support, the crisis is expected to deepen, and families may face renewed displacement within weeks. The need for immediate action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Mozambique is crucial to preventing further suffering and ensuring the safety and well-being of those affected.
