Conflict and Cyclone in Mozambique

On December 15, Tropical Cyclone Chido hit Mozambique, damaging homes, roads and other buildings.

The intense winds have damaged a huge number of homes, uprooting thousands of people. Around 160,000 people need humanitarian assistance and hundreds are staying in evacuation centres in Pemba.

The number of people in need of urgent support is likely to grow as access improves to cut off areas, and the full extent of storm damage comes to light.

The Cyclone has hit an area which is already experiencing extreme difficulties due to ongoing conflict. Thousands of people have already had to leave their homes to find safety.

The conflict in northern Mozambique has been causing widespread displacement since 2017. It is one of the fastest growing displacement crises in the world.

In December 2023, rising violence broke out across the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, uprooting people from their homes.

People are having to move again and again as areas become unsafe because of the escalating violence. More than 780,000 people have been forced to leave their homes.

The need for shelter is huge, with families sleeping outdoors, exposed to harsh weather, disease and other protection risks.

We are already supporting vulnerable communities affected by the conflict and we will be responding to Tropical Cyclone Chido too.

Tropical Cyclone Chido

We have aid stored in Mozambique so we can respond quickly to extreme weather like this. Our response will likely support people with blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, woven bags, mosquito nets and solar lights.

Ongoing conflict

We have already supported over 70,000 people displaced by the conflict with our partner, CARE Mozambique.

We are providing shelter kits, tarpaulins, solar lights, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, and mosquito nets to families who urgently need shelter.

Mozambique is one of the most unequal countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Combined with extremely high levels of poverty, this has created high levels of social tension.

In October 2017 an extremist group, known as Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama, launched attacks on the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

The group has since carried violent attacks on innocent people, government forces, and military installations.

The violent attacks have been concentrated on the coast of Cabo Delgado, from Pemba city to the Tanzanian border. But, as the violence increases further, it is now beginning to spread into provinces such as Niassa.

In November and December 2024, fresh attacks have caused more areas to become unsafe. As a result thousands more people have had to flee their homes.

As of March 2024, over 780,000 people have left their homes due to the conflict. Of these, 80% are women and children.

90% of people report shelter as their most urgent need, followed by food (88%).

Most people are staying with family and friends in host communities, whose resources are already strained.

Now, these same people are having to cope with the destruction of Tropical Cyclone Chido.

The situation is desperate and chaotic. But as other crises around the world continue to escalate, more and more humanitarian agencies are reporting that they are running out of funds for their work in Cabo Delgado.

Communities bearing the brunt of this conflict need emergency shelter as soon as possible.