Mozambique faces significant humanitarian challenges with 25,000 refugees and 716,878 internally displaced persons due to violence and climate disasters. UNHCR and partners are focused on providing essential support and promoting sustainable community resilience, while advocating for safe and dignified return processes for IDPs and refugees.
As of September and October 2024, Mozambique continues to grapple with significant challenges posed by ongoing displacement crises and climate change ramifications. The country is currently home to approximately 25,000 refugees and asylum seekers, alongside over 716,878 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence from non-state armed groups and the severe impacts of environmental events, particularly Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which struck twice in early 2023. This climatic disaster dominoed the consequences of Tropical Cyclone Gombe the preceding year, culminating in substantial displacement and infrastructure damage affecting more than one million people.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is actively collaborating with various stakeholders, including governmental entities, to furnish vital protection services and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, and host communities. Their efforts extend to fostering community resilience and establishing sustainable solutions to displacement. Over the past year, 610,981 individuals have returned to their areas of origin, although many face a lack of essential services and reside in dire conditions.
UNHCR advocates for the principle that all return movements of refugees and IDPs should be conducted in an informed, safe, voluntary, and dignified manner. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for integrating all displaced individuals into national services and systems, which includes participation in climate contingency planning and response strategies. Concurrently, UNHCR is amplifying its engagement with development and peace-building actors to facilitate increased programming aimed at the inclusion of displaced and returned populations in community-driven initiatives.
Mozambique stands as one of the most affected nations by climate change, coupled with ongoing conflicts that have led to widespread displacement. The country is facing a dual crisis: one stemming from violent acts by non-state armed groups resulting in internal displacements, and another from climatic events that have exacerbated living conditions. The UNHCR’s efforts aim not only to address immediate humanitarian needs but also to build long-term resilience in affected communities, striving for a balanced approach between relief and development.
In summary, Mozambique’s ongoing displacement crisis and environmental challenges necessitate a coordinated response from UNHCR and other stakeholders. Humanitarian aid must be coupled with strategies to enhance resilience and restore dignity for affected individuals. Ensuring safe and voluntary returns, while integrating displaced populations into national systems, is essential for fostering stability and resilience in the region.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
