What Is Conflict – Mozambique

ShelterBox is committed to supporting families in their recovery from conflict. But what is conflict?

Conflict, sometimes called Humanitarian Crisis, is defined as an event or series of events that are threatening to the health, safety, or wellbeing of communities or large groups of people.

Like disaster, every conflict is different. Conflicts are caused by different factors, and affect populations in different ways. Often, conflict is a struggle or controversy between an organized group and governments or between two opposing ideological groups. These events, especially if violent, can cause both short-term and long-term displacement of civilian populations.

ShelterBox is committed to supporting families in their short-term and long-term recovery process.

Since October 2017, an extremist armed group has been launching violent attacks on civilians in the northern province of Cabo Delgado (the red section of the map). The attacks have been concentrated in this area but over the years the attacks have increased on civilians, governments, and military posts. The continued violence has caused a lot of displacement and insecurity in the area.

On March 24, 64,000 people were displaced when the town of Palma came under attacked from this group. The situation has been described as chaotic. Every day, more people arrive to neighbouring districts, on foot, by boat, or bus, to escape the violence.

700,000 people have been displaced in the region, and the shelter need is huge.

Due to continued precautions and restrictions surrounding coronavirus, ShelterBox is currently scoping potential local, in-country partners to help deliver shelter aid to families affected by this conflict.

The logistics are complex, but ShelterBox is looking to distribute emergency aid to 2,000 households in the area. Shelter kits, thermal blankets, solar lights, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, and mosquito nets are the highest priority items for ShelterBox right now.

ShelterBox has previously worked in Mozambique, supporting 1,000 families with emergency shelter following the destruction caused by Cyclone Dineo. In fact, Canadian SRT Richard Loat directly helped support families in Mozambique as he travelled to the country to evaluate how ShelterBox aid was helping families recover.