Nearly 100,000 residents in northern Mozambique have fled their homes in recent weeks as armed groups launched new assaults, setting villages ablaze and targeting civilians.
In Nampula Province, the sudden arrival of displaced families has overwhelmed schools, churches, and any open areas that can serve as temporary shelter.
This marks the fourth large wave of displacement in just a few months, placing intense strain on communities that were already struggling to support earlier arrivals.
The insurgency, carried out by militants linked to the so-called Islamic State, has uprooted more than 1.3 million people since it began in Cabo Delgado—the country’s northernmost province—in 2017.
Since the beginning of this year, the violence has spread into Nampula and Nissa Provinces, pushing conflict closer to regions that had formerly been relatively safe and had served as refuge for those escaping earlier attacks.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), nearly 40 million dollars will be needed next year to address the growing humanitarian needs in the area. This year’s funding has reached only about half of what is required.
Because resources are so limited, UNHCR warns that crowded living conditions and insufficient assistance are driving some families to return to areas that remain dangerous.
