Maputo, 6 Jul (AIM) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recorded 609,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as of May 2025, as a result of extreme violence carried out by Islamist terrorists in northern Mozambique.
According to UNHCR annual report, 461,000 people were displaced by conflict and others by climate related events, and “sporadic attacks by non-state armed groups continue to destabilize Cabo Delgado and parts of Nampula, leading to further displacement.”
However, reads the document, return movements increased in 2025, although many still face significant protection risks and limited access to services, livelihoods and adequate housing.
“Host communities experience rising pressure as both conflict and climate affected households require sustained support and funding gaps across clusters have hindered full implementation of life saving and life sustaining activities”, reads the report.
According to the document, Mozambique hosts 24,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Central and Eastern Africa, with asylum seekers representing about 75 percent of this population.
“Mozambique is among the world’s most climate vulnerable countries, and the 2024 to 2025 cyclone season caused widespread devastation. Cyclone Chido affected 454,000 people, destroying homes, schools and health facilities across Cabo Delgado and Nampula. Cyclone Dikeledi followed in January 2025, impacting 283,000 people with severe winds and heavy rainfall in Nampula and Cyclone Jude in March 2025 impacted over 390,000 people, causing extensive displacement and straining national and humanitarian response capacity”, reads the document.
According to the report, UNHCR’s response in 2025 centered on delivering accurate protection and solutions data, addressing urgent and protracted protection needs, strengthening national systems for refugee and IDP protection and advancing inclusion and pathways to durable solutions through partnerships with government, humanitarian and development actors.
UNHCR needed 42.7 million dollars to fund its operation in the country but received just over half of that amount. Until December 2025, there was a funding gap of 22.08 million dollars.
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