The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that over 25,000 people have been displaced in Mozambique in recent weeks. They have joined nearly 1.3 million Mozambicans affected by displacement due to armed conflict, tropical cyclones, and drought. With critical funding running low, the UNHCR is raising the alarm and warning that its ability to protect and assist those in urgent need is being pushed to the limit.
Cabo Delgado Province, located in the north of the country and home to significant gas reserves and other valuable natural resources such as gems and minerals, is not only the base of multinational companies, but also the epicenter of an ongoing armed conflict where internal displacement is on the rise.
“Attacks by non-state armed groups on civilians and infrastructure continue, forcing people to flee and disrupting efforts toward solutions and development,” said Xavier Creach, the UNHCR representative in Mozambique, speaking to journalists in Geneva on Friday.
“Thousands have lost their homes, many for the second or third time, and are seeking safety in already overstretched communities.”
Creach added that the renewed intensity of the conflict is affecting areas that were previously considered relatively stable, with hostilities now spilling over into new provinces.
“Ancuabe and Montepuez are among the most heavily affected, with 14,929 and 5,370 newly displaced people, respectively, as of April. In Niassa Province, where displacement had previously been limited, more than 2,000 individuals have been forced to flee since March 19,” he said.
These developments occur at a time of extreme strain on the humanitarian response in Mozambique.
“Across the board, organizations face shrinking budgets while needs continue to rise. The result is a dangerous equation: less funding and more people in need,” the UNHCR official said.
He warned that the ability of aid agencies to respond is severely limited by a critical lack of funding. The protection needs of survivors of gender-based violence, mental health services, and access to civil documentation far exceed the available resources.
UNHCR expressed particular concern about the impact of funding cuts on the refugee response. So far this year, the UN Refugee Agency has only received 32 percent of the required US$ 42.7 million.
Mozambique hosts approximately 25,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, primarily from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in addition to some 700,000 people who are still internally displaced and over 600,000 who have returned to their districts of origin.
Creach gave the example of Maratane Refugee Settlement in Nampula Province, where UNHCR may have to stop providing essential services, such as healthcare and education, due to a lack of funding.
Mozambique is grappling with a multifaceted crisis involving armed conflict and displacement, recurring extreme weather events related to the climate crisis, and political unrest following months of post-election protests.
In March, Cyclone Jude made landfall in Nampula Province, marking the third major cyclone to hit the country within three months. These tropical storms have devastated areas where families fleeing armed conflict had sought refuge, exacerbating already dire humanitarian needs.
Previously, in late 2024, civil unrest led some Mozambicans to seek refuge in neighboring Malawi. While most have since returned voluntarily, it remains a stark reminder of how fragile the country's political situation has become.
“The Government and people of Mozambique have consistently shown commitment to hosting and supporting refugees and internally displaced people, despite being one of the poorest countries in the world,” Creach said.
“Communities across the country have also demonstrated deep solidarity. But it is neither fair nor realistic to expect Mozambique to bear this burden alone.”
He added that the existing crisis was fueling a "silent economic crisis." Food prices, which were already high, had spiked in recent months by 10 to 20 percent, while the people's incomes continued to decline.
"A perfect storm is gathering. If we turn away now, the country will face a much larger humanitarian emergency. The crisis is unfolding now. We have a choice. We can act to prevent, support and protect. Or we can sit on our hands," he said.
Currently, 5.2 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance, yet the 2025 Mozambique Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has only received about 15 percent of the required $352 million, leaving it with severe funding shortages. Funding for the Mozambique Tropical Cyclones Flash Appeal 2025 and the Mozambique Drought Flash Appeal 2025 is even more inadequate.