United Nations, April 1: The escalation of violence in Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique continues to drive massive displacement, following the recent attack by non-state armed groups in Palma town on March 24, said UN humanitarians on Wednesday.
The security situation remains volatile and concerning, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The International Organization for Migration has already registered approximately 8,000 people at arrival points in Nangade, Mueda, Montepuez and Pemba districts. Thousands more arrived on Wednesday in Pemba and other areas of Cabo Delgado, said OCHA in a release.
The United Nations has information that hundreds of people are still trying to leave Palma right now and thousands are making their way by foot, boat and road, and some are being rescued by the UN Humanitarian Air Services and other groups of civil society, it said.
A full-scale humanitarian response will be needed to address the most immediate needs of people fleeing, it said.
The UN agencies and partners continue to mobilize resources to assist affected people. The UN Population Fund is pre-positioning birthing kits and essential drugs to support displaced pregnant women and new mothers, said OCHA.
Urgent funding is needed to scale up and sustain the response. The humanitarian appeal for the Cabo Delgado crisis is currently just 1 percent funded, it said.
Source: Xinhua