Mozambique

22 April 2025

By 16 April, an attack by a non-state armed group on 31 March in Nacuale village, Ancuabe district, Cabo Delgado province, had displaced around 15,000 people, mostly women (4,669) and children (7,565). The displaced have sought refuge in various locations, including displacement sites and host communities across Ancuabe, Macomia, Montepuez, and Quissanga districts. The most pressing needs are food, shelter, NFIs, and protection. This attack exemplifies the continued violence against civilians in northern Mozambique since 2017, leading to repeated waves of displacement. Such attacks often involve looting, arrests, abductions, targeted killings, and the destruction of infrastructure, as non-state armed groups aim to demonstrate their presence and instil fear in the population. Displaced people often experience overcrowding in makeshift settlements and host communities, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks. Disruptions to agricultural activities and limited access to markets aggravate food insecurity, affecting both displaced people and host communities.
(RI 28/06/2024, IOM 18/04/2025, UNHCR 21/04/2025)

11 March 2025

On 10 March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude made landfall in Mossuril district, Nampula province, with strong winds and heavy rainfall. It caused widespread destruction, leaving many people homeless, without power, and with limited access to services given damaged infrastructure. Preliminary assessments are underway. Approximately 780,000 people are at risk from the strong winds and heavy rains expected from the cyclone, particularly in Nampula and Zambezia. The current rainy season and cyclone season may lead to a rise in cholera cases in these two provinces. Jude is the third cyclone to hit Mozambique since December 2024, adding to the complexities of the humanitarian response in the affected regions. The impact of the two cyclones is placing a significant strain on response efforts, aggravated by conflict, political tensions, and a decline in humanitarian funding. Those affected by the cyclone will likely require shelter, food and NFIs, health services, and protection. (OCHA 10/03/2025, MISAU 11/03/2025, AimNews 11/03/2025)

21 January 2025

Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi made landfall in Mozambique on 13 January 2025 and affected more than 234,000 people, with almost 20,000 homes destroyed. The cyclone destroyed infrastructure, including houses, health facilities, schools, and roads. It hit Nampula province the hardest, displacing more than 2,300 people. Many of those displaced are living in makeshift tents or overcrowded conditions. Their immediate needs include shelter, NFIs, WASH intervention, food, and healthcare. (Club of Mozambique 21/01/2025, IOM 21/01/2025, ECHO 20/01/2025)

20 January 2025

The combined effects of Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi in northern Mozambique during the 2024/2025 cyclone season are expected to worsen food insecurity in provinces already impacted by conflict. Between October 2024 and March 2025, approximately 1.98 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher), including 212,000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 1.7 million in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). This represents a 33% increase from the August–September 2024 period, when 1.49 million people were classified in IPC Phase 3 or higher.

Factors contributing to this increase include drought induced by El Niño during the 2023/2024 rainy season, Tropical Storm Filipo, conflict and insecurity, and high food prices. The recent cyclones have further worsened the crisis, with Cyclone Chido destroying 62% of farmland in the affected areas. Disruptions to transportation and agriculture will likely intensify food insecurity, particularly in conflict-affected northern provinces, where livelihoods and access to essential resources are already compromised.

(IPC accessed 20/01/2025, UNFPA 09/01/2025, IOM 21/01/2025)

17 December 2024

On 15 December 2024, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mecufi district in Cabo Delgado province. Until 17 December, it affected over 174,000 people, killing at least 34 and injuring 319. The cyclone destroyed or damaged 35,000 homes and affected nine schools and ten health facilities across Chiure, Mecufi, and Pemba. Impacts have also been reported in the regions of Macomia, Metuge, Montepuez, Muidumbe, and Namuno. (OCHA 17/12/2024, OCHA 16/12/2024)

17 December 2024

Tropical Cyclone Chido caused significant disruption in the Comoros, Malawi, Mayotte and Mozambique. In Mozambique, it made landfall on 15 December 2024 in Cabo Delgado province, killing at least 45, injuring 493, and affecting over 184,000 people. It damaged approximately 35,000 houses, 149 schools, and 48 health facilities, mostly in Chiure, Mecufi, and Pemba, which are facing utility outages and urgent protection needs. In Malawi, it had affected over 45,000 people across 16 districts by 18 December, with 13 fatalities and infrastructure damage. Heavy rains continue to threaten the population. In the Comoros, it hit Anjouan and Moheli, affecting over 64,000 residents, displacing about 140, and injuring five. It damaged over 218 houses, nine schools, and 45% of crops, with reports of landslides and strong winds. Across all regions, urgent needs include shelter, food, infrastructure repair, and risk mitigation. Access issues and rainfall hamper recovery efforts. (OCHA 17/12/2024, OCHA 18/12/2024, OCHA 16/12/2024)

29 October 2024

On 25 October 2024, the Norwegian Refugee Council suspended its operations in Mozambique as a result of escalating violence and deteriorating security conditions in conflict-affected provinces, particularly in northern Mozambique. This suspension will intensify the needs of those already facing the impacts of the country's severe humanitarian crisis, with people grappling with a combination of conflict, food insecurity, and climate-related disasters, such as droughts and recurrent flooding. (NRC 25/10/2024, WorldData accessed 30/10/2024, OCHA 21/08/2024)