Maputo, 12 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican government has mobilized 166 million dollars to fund the reconstruction plan for the northern province of Cabo Delgado, especially the districts severely plagued by islamist terrorism, which has caused the destruction of public and private infrastructure, including health facilities and schools.
Of this amount, the World Bank has provided 100 million dollars and the remaining 66 million dollars have been disbursed by multilateral partners as part of the stabilization programme, which should take place once peace is restored in the region.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced the figure on Thursday, in the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba, at the 13th National Meeting of Municipalities, an event organized by the Ministry of State Administration, under the slogan, “For Inclusive and Sustainable Municipal Development.”
“As a result of the efforts made, it was possible to mobilize 166 million US dollars for the province of Cabo Delgado. The money will cover the districts of Palma, Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia, Muidumbe and Quissanga, following a structure of three central pillars, namely the economic and social dimension which includes humanitarian assistance, the rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure and the recovery of economic and financial activity”, said Nyusi.
According to the President, in addition to these funds, other partners and organizations are implementing projects to support the reconstruction of Cabo Delgado.
“We can mention the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies for 37.2 million dollars, ExxonMobil Mozambique for 3.9 million dollars and the Development Co-operation Platform partners for 550,000 dollars”, Nyusi said.
He guaranteed that the Mozambican government has allocated additional funds for immediate interventions totaling 10.5 million dollars to ensure the functioning of the public administration in the districts affected by terrorism, while structural interventions are underway as part of reconstruction.
Nyusi explained that, during attacks, terrorists cut off power, water and communications, but the government soon restored the affected services.
“These activities are being carried out using the government’s own resources. In the first pillar of action, within the scope of humanitarian assistance, which aims to ensure social cohesion and social services, the government issued 47,500 birth certificates, 23,538 identity cards and 56,745 birth registration certificates for internally displaced people in the northern districts of Cabo Delgado”, he said.
“You might think that this is a small thing, and that it has no impact, but anyone who doesn’t have documentation can’t be there, and can’t present themselves. And these activities are taking place in Palma, in Mocímboa, and in Quissanga”, he added.
Overall, the Cabo Delgado reconstruction project will involve 123 infrastructures, 61 in the southern part of the province, and 56 in the northern districts.
“We have to take into account that, as well as displaced people leaving Cabo Delgado province, we have displaced people within Cabo Delgado and we also have to assist them. For example, the flow of people in Mueda or here in the city of Pemba already requires intervention because it is beyond the capacity of these municipalities”, he said.
Regarding the third pillar of economic and financial activities, Nyusi announced that 52 fishing boats and their respective gear have already been acquired for the districts of Metuge, Palma, Quissanga, Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia. 3,668 young people have been trained in short courses in small business management and 3,268 young people have graduated from short technical and vocational courses in areas such as electricity, mechanics, horticulture, agriculture and carpentry.
At the same time, 16,270 temporary local jobs were created in the construction sector under component three of the project and 2,220 self-employment kits were delivered, benefiting 754 people.
(AIM)
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