Maputo, 21 May (AIM) – Over 1.3 million people are still in an emergency situation and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in those regions affected by Islamist terrorism in northern Mozambique.
According to Paulo Beirão, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Gender and Social Action, speaking on Wednesday, in Maputo, at Round Table on “National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Securityâ€, these people are located in the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula and most of them are women and children.
“Women and children are the most affected, most vulnerable to the impacts of terrorism, forced displacement and social instability. The armed conflict, extremism and displacement have weakened the social fabricâ€, he said.
Therefore, he said, the government plans to strengthen emergency responses and implement structural measures aimed at reducing the vulnerability of affected populations.
Beirão explained that the government is preparing the second cycle of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2026 and 2035, “which will be aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, two international instruments aimed at promoting women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution.â€
For his part, Hermenegildo Mulhovo, executive director of the NGO Institute for Multiparty Democracy, said that although women are the main victims of armed conflicts, they are excluded from formal crisis resolution mechanisms.
“In several communities affected by the conflicts, it was the women who managed to stabilize dialogue and prevent further casualties. However, women and girls continue to be exposed to forced displacement, sexual violence, loss of livelihoods, and social exclusionâ€, he said.
He also added that in those central provinces affected by the legacies of military conflicts, women face poverty, food insecurity, and economic fragility.
Catherine Sozi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mozambique, the country must continue promoting sustainable peace, inclusion, and social cohesion “favoring female leadership in conflict mediation and humanitarian response.â€
“Insecurity cannot be seen only from the point of view of military conflict, but also from the point of view of povertyâ€, she said.
Last March, the European Union (EU) pledged to disburse 20 million Euros (23 million US dollars, at the current exchange rate) to strengthen humanitarian assistance in those regions affected by Islamist terrorism. This support would be part of a broader package of 36 million Euros destined for the Southern Africa region.
The announcement came in a sensitive context, marked by uncertainty regarding the continuity of military operations in northern Mozambique as the Rwandan forces deployed to combat terrorism in the region have made their continued presence conditional on the regularization of disbursements by the European Union.
However, the Rwandan authorities recently announced that Mozambican government will secure the necessary funds for mission's continuation in Cabo Delgado, since the European Union (EU) does not â plan to renew its financial support.
The Rwandan Forces were deployed to northern Mozambique in 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government to support the fight against terrorists operating in the region, since 2017.
(AIM)
MR /Am/
