London, 13 Sep (AIM) – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has lamented that it has been forced by funding shortages to continue distributing reduced rations to an estimated 418,630 people affected by islamist terrorism in northern Mozambique.
In its Country Brief, published on Monday, the UN organisation notes that it has given out reduced rations since April 2022, except during the peak of the lean season in December 2022 and January 2023. Worse still, in February WFP was forced to temporarily halt food assistance.
In response to the lack of funds, WFP has switched to handing out assistance based on Vulnerability-Based Targeting (VBT) in four districts in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. This prioritises food assistance to the most vulnerable internally displaced people and their host communities. The scheme will be gradually rolled out in another five districts in consultation with local government representatives and communities.
WFP has also been involved in providing self-employment courses to 1,368 people in Cabo Delgado covering construction, electricity, tailoring, and food processing. In addition, it has given vouchers to 460 people participating in a drainage system restoration project in the provincial capital, Pemba.
It warns that there is a high probability of drought in several parts of Mozambique during the coming agricultural season. In July, WFP supported the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) in analysing climate forecasts and it was found that drought triggers were hit in several districts. As a result, WFP is working with the National Disaster Management Institute (INGD) to activate and implement action plans to mitigate the impact of the forecasted drought.
Looking at the context of WFP’s operations in Mozambique, it states that “acute food insecurity has been on the rise in recent years in northern Mozambique, as conflict and recurring displacement, compounded by climatic and economic shocks, have disrupted communities’ agricultural activities, livelihoods, and purchasing power”.
It adds, “Mozambique is classified as one of the countries in the world most affected by extreme weather events. Since 2007, eleven Tropical Cyclones have hit Mozambique, and the global climate crisis is driving more frequent and intense floods, storms, and droughts”.
As a result, “significant challenges remain in achieving food and nutrition security in Mozambique. Most Mozambicans cannot afford the cost of a nutritious diet. High levels of malnutrition affect almost half the children under five years of age. Approximately 3.15 million people face crisis, or worse, levels of food insecurity, as per the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment. Of those, 690,400 are in Cabo Delgado province alone. Nearly half the population remains below the poverty line”.
Islamist terrorism has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and livelihoods in parts of Cabo Delgado. The Mozambican defence and security forces, supported by the Rwandan army and soldiers from SAMIM (SADC Military Mission in Mozambique) have made significant breakthroughs against the terrorist gang known locally as “Al-Shabaab”.
Recently, the leader of the group, Bonomade Machude Omar, the second-in-command, Abu Kital, and senior commander Ali Mahando, have been killed along with other senior members of the group in military operations.
WFP has been present in Mozambique since 1977, working with the government to provide food, nutrition, and livelihood assistance to the most vulnerable communities.
(AIM)
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