APA-Maputo (Mozambique) More than 46,000 Mozambicans have been displaced from their homes since the beginning of February 2024 as Islamic State-linked militia scale up attacks in the troubles Cabo Delgado region, the UN said on Monday.
In a humanitarian situation update, UNICEF said 13,000 of the newly displaced persons have been scattered within Cabo Delgado itself while the remainder have been forced to flee to neighbouring Nampula province.
“Escalation of attacks in February by non-state armed groups led to increased displacements in Macomia, Chiure and Mecufi districts of Cabo Delgado,” the UN agency said.
It said attacks in Chuire district between February 19 and 21 led to an outflow of people into neighbouring Erati district, Nampula province.
Several UNICEF implementing partners have suspended operations in affected districts due to safety concerns, it said.
More than 27,699 – or 60 percent – of the 46,000 persons displaced this month alone are children, the agency said.
It said a further 5,650 children are “out of school due to closures/use of schools as accommodation centres.”
“Preliminary assessments indicate the need of shelter, water and basic sanitation and supplies such as hygiene kits, mosquito nets, (and) basic household supplies.”
The insurgents have wreaked havoc in the mineral-rich Cabo Delgado province since October 2017, ostensibly to force the Maputo authorities to ensure a fair distribution of the region’s wealth.
The attacks forced French oil and gas major TotalEnergies to suspend its US$20-billion Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
The project, which is ranked Africa’s single largest foreign direct investment to date, was mothballed in April 2021 after TotalEnergies withdrew all personnel from the site following jihadist attacks in province.
As well as the development of offshore gas fields, the project includes a liquefaction plant and a fleet of dedicated LNG carriers.
The project is set to make Mozambique one of the world’s 10 biggest gas exporters, according to estimates.
JN/APA