The archbishop of Nampula and president of the episcopal conference of Mozambique warned today of the risks of a humanitarian crisis with new waves of displaced people, due to rebel attacks in the extreme north of that province that borders Cabo Delgado.
“It is a worsening of the crisis that was already being experienced because of the war in Cabo Delgado. Now we also have displaced persons from the province of Nampula,” said Inácio Saure, in an interview with Lusa.
The rebel incursions in Nampula had as main targets the districts of Eráti and Memba, especially since August, both on the banks of the Lúrio River, the natural border between Nampula and Cabo Delgado.
The new wave of attacks destroyed infrastructure and left an unknown number of deaths, including an Italian nun murdered during an attack on the Catholic mission in Chipende, in the far north of the diocese of Nacala.
According to preliminary data provided to Lusa by the Government of Nampula, in the district of Eráti alone, the new incursions caused the movement of around 10,000 people.
There were already more than 8,000 displaced people in a resettlement center in Corrane, Meconta, in addition to thousands of people sheltering in the homes of family and friends all over the province.
“For us, it is a feeling of impotence […] because in fact we already have many displaced persons from Cabo Delgado”, stressed the archbishop of Nampula.
For the Archbishop of Nampula, policies and strategies for monitoring youth are essential to stop recruitment, preventing groups with obscure intentions from taking advantage of the vulnerability of these younger groups.
“Youth must be cared for, educated and trained. On the other hand, it is necessary to defend this youth from the weaknesses that make them easily recruited”, stressed Inácio Saure.
The archbishop of Nampula also mourned the death of the Italian sister Maria de Coppi, who was shot dead during the attack on the Catholic mission in Chipende, in Nampula.
“This religious of Italian nationality was 83 years old, of which 59 were in the service of this people of Mozambique”, recalled the archbishop of Nampula, classifying her as one of the “martyrs” in the war against the insurgency in northern Mozambique.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but terrorized since 2017 by armed violence, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.
The insurgency led to a year-old military response by Rwandan and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, liberating districts next to the gas projects, but leading to a new wave of attacks in other areas.
Authorities have classified the most recent incursions as scattered reactions by Cabo Delgado insurgents, on the run, trying to survive the onslaught of troops pursuing them.
There are about 800,000 internally displaced people due to the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registry project.
