Pemba – Nearly 4,000 people have fled in Palma in northern Mozambique in the past week, pushing the total number of displaced to almost 25,000 according to data collected by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which this week contributed USD 1.2 million to the response.

“Hundreds of people with urgent humanitarian needs are arriving daily by foot, bus and boat due to the instability in Palma,” IOM Mozambique Chief of Mission Laura Tomm-Bonde said.

“We continue to deliver life-saving assistance but need further support to help foster durable solutions for thousands of internally displaced families so they can begin building a new future for themselves and their families.”

IOM's humanitarian operations in northern Mozambique are funded by donor agencies, with the support of a USD 1.2 million contribution from IOM’s Migration Emergency Funding Mechanism. The Organization’s Director of Operations and Emergencies will arrive in Mozambique tomorrow to further assess the situation and to reaffirm IOM's commitment to support people in need in this region.

More than half of the displaced are in the districts of Mueda (6,970) and Nangade (6,733) on the northern border with Tanzania. Others have moved farther south in Cabo Delgado province; 5,000 people have arrived in Pemba City, and a further 3,795 to Montepuez district. 

Malitate Ali, a mother of six including a newborn, found shelter with a relative in Pemba and is receiving psychosocial support from IOM.

“In Palma, armed groups came, they burnt stores, houses and beheaded people,” she said.  “Some of my family members were taken and injured. I need food and clothing for my children, especially my baby. If peace returns to Palma, then I shall return.”

IOM continues to provide psychosocial and protection assistance to hundreds of displaced people from Palma, including psychosocial first aid, group counselling, and individual assistance. The Organization is shipping non-food items (NFIs) to replenish the pipeline and to scale-up the response, including across hard-to-reach areas.  In the past week shelter and NFIs were provided to nearly 2,000 displaced families in Mueda and Montepuez districts, including tarpaulins, blankets, clothing, buckets, jerry cans and other essential items.

IOM has provided direct assistance to more than 40,000 people affected by insecurity in Cabo Delgado since the beginning of the year. Daily Displacement Tracking Matrix´s updates are available here.

IOM is appealing for USD 58 million through its 2021 Crisis Response Plan, which includes almost USD 22 million to respond to critical humanitarian needs in Northern Mozambique under the Humanitarian Response Plan.

For additional information, please contact Paul Dillon at IOM Geneva, Tel: +41 79 636 9874, Email: pdillon@iom.int  or Angela Wells, Tel: +41 79 403 5365, Email: awells@iom.int; or Manuel Mabuiangue, Tel:  +258 847345420, Email: mmabuiangue@iom.int