Most of the displaced people on the move in Cabo Delgado at the beginning of this month were seeking to return to their homes, according to data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the Mozambican province affected by armed violence.
The UN agency’s monitoring of displaced people between 5 and 11 October recorded 7,960 people on the move, half of whom were children.
The intention to return to their areas of origin was what motivated 72% of the people to hit the road in that period, while 15% were fleeing attacks.
The main movements took place between Macomia and Ancuabe districts, where new attacks have been reported since June.
The IOM noted that of the 7,960 people on the move, 4,472 (56%) managed to reach their destination.
Also, according to the agency, of the total people on the move at the beginning of this month, 47% had been displaced twice, and 31% had fled their homelands three times.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed violence, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
The insurgency has led to a military response since a year ago with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of violence have emerged south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.
In five years, the conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the UNHCR, and around 4,000 dead, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.
