Terrorist attacks displaced about 5,600 children in September – UNICEF

Maputo, 2 Nov (AIM) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that about 5,600 children were displaced in September as a result of the terrorist attacks that have been plaguing the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

According to the UNICEF situation report, unveiled on Wednesday, the terrorist factions in the region “are repositioning themselves”, following the announced death of some of their leaders in military operations in August.

Since September, according to the document, there have been smaller-scale attacks on populations in various districts of Cabo Delgado which “resulted in the displacement or movement of fleeing populations.”

“In September, 10,463 people, 54.4 per cent of them children, moved, mainly due to the attacks (26 per cent), fear of attacks (21 per cent) or to return to their areas of origin (27 per cent). Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia and Muidumbe are the main districts of departure and arrival. Over 50 per cent of the movements were forced and the main needs reported were food and shelter”, UNICEF added.

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, announced recently that the UN is drawing up a plan to assist around 1.6 million people affected by extreme weather events and terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

According to data from the UN agencies on the ground, the terrorist attacks in northern Mozambique led to the flight of 338,086 children in need of humanitarian aid.

However, according to the government, 70% of the population displaced by the terrorist attacks have returned, as a result of the restoration of security in the region.

(AIM)

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