The IOM and humanitarian partners reported that displaced families are facing urgent needs for shelter, water, and food. Many fled on foot or by boat to safer districts, including Pemba and Metuge. Survivors described attacks involving arson, executions, and looting. Authorities say the latest raids are among the most intense since the peak of the insurgency in 2021.

The violence coincides with Mozambique’s ongoing efforts to reclaim territory from fighters linked to the Islamic State, known locally as Al-Shabaab (not linked to the Somali group of the same name). While government forces and Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops have pushed militants out of some areas, attacks continue in more remote communities.

Aid Agencies Warn Of Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

Relief organizations have warned that the growing number of displaced persons risks overwhelming existing aid systems. Humanitarian corridors remain unstable, complicating deliveries of food, medicine, and sanitation equipment. UNICEF has called for urgent international support to prevent further deterioration of conditions, especially for children.

The UN says conditions remain volatile in Cabo Delgado, and called on all actors to respect international humanitarian law and ensure safe access for aid providers. Mozambique’s government has pledged to reinforce security deployments, though residents in newly affected districts say more protection is urgently needed.