UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Humanitarian Response Mozambique OCHA - UNHCR - WFP
/
3:13
/
MP4
/
238.1 MB

Edited News | UNHCR , OCHA , WFP

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Humanitarian Response Mozambique OCHA - UNHCR - WFP

UN warns of rising violence and food insecurity in Mozambique

The United Nations and partners today launched an appeal for US$ 254 million to provide urgently needed assistance and protection to more 1.1 million people affected by violence, conflict and insecurity in the Cabo Delgado area and neighboring provinces of Mozambique.

"The crisis in Cabo Delgado rapidly escalated in 2020, with attacks and fighting forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes every month," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at a news conference in Geneva. “ Nearly 530,000 people are now internally displaced in Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa, almost five times the number registered some nine months ago in March," he said, referencing the northernmost area of the country, in the vicinity of the border with Tanzania, and the neighboring regions to which people have fled.

The crisis in Cabo Delgado province is linked by UN experts to a combination of attacks by Islamist militants and a perceived failure by authorities to distribute some of the vast mineral and offshore gas revenues to the local population.

“People fleeing violence in Cabo Delgado have been exposed to severe violations and abuses and we are especially concerned for the plight of children and women”, the OCHA spokesperson said. “Women and girls are at risk of abduction, gender-based violence and exploitation, while boys are at risk of being killed or recruited by armed groups,” he added.

Conflict and displacement are severely affecting already overstretched essential services. More than 90 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives or friends, whose already scarce resources are being further strained, OCHA said. Communities hosting displaced people also need support as their exemplary solidarity is reaching a breaking point.

“Many areas hosting displaced people will flood in the upcoming rainy season, we fear. Local authorities and the humanitarian community in Mozambique are working against the clock to set up new settlement areas with adequate conditions to relocate the displaced people, ” Laerke said .

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed "deep concern" over the rising number of civilians displaced in the northern parts of Mozambique as attacks by non-state armed groups continue to rage in Cabo Delgado province.

During the last few days, attacks conducted by these armed groups have increased significantly in Palma, Nangade and Macomia districts. Many people have been forced to move multiple times, and the situation of those affected by the conflict is worsening rapidly,” UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said today.

UNHCR stressed that the situation represents a "protection crisis" for more than half a million civilians on the run. There are widespread reports of human rights abuses and disregard for international humanitarian law.

UNHCR’s Baloch said that “more than 2,000 people have been killed since the conflict started in 2017. In the violence houses have been looted and burned, families separated and health centres and schools seriously damaged.” He added that “access to agricultural land has been blocked and other economic activities curtailed. There is a serious indication that this crisis could spread beyond the country’s borders if it goes unstopped”.

”The food security situation is quite dire. There are high levels of hunger and malnutrition rates," said the World Food Programme (WFP) spokesperson Tomson Phiri. "More than 900,000 people in Cabo Delgado, in Niassa as well as in Nampula are now facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity," Phiri said.

With the disruption of markets, food prices are skyrocketing as supply decreases, WFP expressed deepening worries for the most vulnerable groups, including severely and acutely malnourished children, and pregnant or nursing women.

In reference to Cabo Delgado, WFP’s Tomson Phiri said that highlighted that "it has the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique with more than half the children malnourished. Without urgent and sustained access and assistance the situation may turn into another major humanitarian disaster”.

The UN agencies and their humanitarian partners said that they counting on the support of the international community to provide timely funding to ensure that the people fleeing violence can access much-needed relief.

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a cloudy day.
  2. Wide shot, press briefing room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “The crisis in Cabo Delgado rapidly escalated in 2020, with attacks and fighting forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes every month. Nearly 530,000 people are now internally displaced in Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa, almost five times the number registered some nine months ago in March”.
  4. Medium shot, journalist in press room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) - Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “People fleeing violence in Cabo Delgado have been exposed to severe violations and abuses and we are especially concerned for the plight of children and women. Women and girls are at risk of abduction, gender-based violence and exploitation, while boys are at risk of being killed or recruited by armed groups”.
  6. Close up, OHCHR spokesperson
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) - Jens Laerke, Spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Many areas hosting displaced people will flood in the upcoming rainy season, we fear. Local authorities and the humanitarian community in Mozambique are working against the clock to set up new settlement areas with adequate conditions to relocate the displaced people”.
  8. Wide shot, podium and screen in the room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) - Babar Baloch, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): ”During the last few days, attacks conducted by these armed groups have increased significantly in Palma, Nangade and Macomia districts. Many people have been forced to move multiple times, and the situation of those affected by the conflict is worsening rapidly”.
  10. Medium shot, journalists in press briefing room at the UN Palais
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Babar Baloch, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “More than 2,000 people have been killed since the conflict started in 2017. In the violence houses have been looted and burned, families separated and health centres and schools seriously damaged. Access to agricultural land has been blocked and other economic activities curtailed. There is a serious indication that this crisis could spread beyond the country’s borders if it goes unstopped”.
  12. Medium shot, spokespeople at the podium
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) - Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP): ”The food security situation is quite dire. There are high levels of hunger and malnutrition rates. More than 900,000 people in Cabo Delgado, in Niassa as well as in Nampula are now facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity”.
  14. Close up, journalist
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) - Tomson Phiri, Spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP): ”Cabo Delgado, it has to be noted, it has the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in Mozambique with more than half the children malnourished. Without urgent and sustained access and assistance the situation may turn into another major humanitarian disaster”.
  16. Wide shot, podium with spokespeople
  17. Close up, journalist in press briefing room
  18. Close up, hands typing

Similar Stories

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians

Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA ENG FRA

As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.