THOUSANDS FLEE NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE IN 1 WEEK AS VIOLENCE SURGES, SAYS UN REFUGEE AGENCY

Tue 07 October 2025:

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the intensifying conflict in northern Mozambique, where nearly 22,000 people were forced to flee their homes in late September due to a fresh wave of violence. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UNHCR’s Mozambique representative, Xavier Creach, described the surge as a “turning point.”

“The recent surge in violence marks a turning point in northern Mozambique,” UNHCR’s representative in Mozambique, Xavier Creach, told reporters in Geneva. “After years of uncertainty, families are reaching their limit as some stay despite the danger and others flee again with little hope of return.”

More than 100,000 people have been displaced this year alone, bringing the total number uprooted since the conflict began in 2017 to over 1.3 million, he said. For the first time, all 17 districts of Cabo Delgado province have been directly affected by attacks.

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UNHCR said civilians continue to be targeted by killings, abductions, and sexual violence, with children facing forced recruitment and deliberate attacks. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable when collecting water or firewood, while older people and those with disabilities often struggle to flee during raids.

By August, he said that the number of security incidents recorded in 2025 had surpassed even the peak levels observed in 2022. Families also face compounding hardships from cyclones, floods, drought, and soaring food prices.

Despite limited funding, with only $66 million of the $352 million requested this year, Creach said the UNHCR is providing psychosocial support, dignity kits, and civil document replacement. He urged the international community to renew support, warning the crisis is “far from over.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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