- 16% of the schools and 21% of the health units are closed
By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) –About 540,000 children in Cabo Delgado province urgently need child protection. The UnitedNations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is warning that Mozambique faces a serious humanitarian crisis affecting more than 4.8 million people.
According to UNICEF's report on Humanitarian Action in Favour of Children—2025, serious violations of children’s rights increased significantly in the first six months of 2024 compared with the same period of 2023.
In Cabo Delgado, "serious violations of children’s rights were 400% higher in the first six months of 2024 in comparison with all of 2023, and there was a 300% rise in civilian fatalities in the first half of 2024 compared with the second half of 2023", said the organisation.
Furthermore, the report indicates that factors such as the vulnerability of children, adolescents, disabled people, and women to abuse, exploitation, violence and psycho-social suffering contributed to increasing the number of those affected in 2024.
"The country is facing a devastating combination of armed conflicts, climate disasters and outbreaks of disease which have put at risk the safety and rights of millions of children", adds UNICEF.
The conflict in Cabo Delgado, which has already resulted in more than 1.3 million internally displaced people, has exacerbated the vulnerability of children, making them more exposed to abuse, exploitation, and violence.
"In a country where children account for 52%of the population, the conflict in Cabo Delgado province continues
to devastate communities. More than 1.3 million internally displaced people, returnees and people affected by the conflict need assistance”, states the report.
In addition to the conflict's direct impacts, the scarcity of basic services, such as education and health, makes matters worse. UNICEF says that 16% of the schools and 21% of the health units are closed, leaving many children without access to education and essential medical care.
“Food insecurity is a growing concern, with about 3.3 million people, including 144,270 children under five years of age, at risk of severe malnutrition due to drought and reduced harvests”, it adds.
According to the report, children are also exposed to the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as measles, cholera, and polio, which demand urgent vaccination and healthcare interventions. UNICEF appeals to humanitarian organisations to increase their support in order to ensure that children receive the protection and essential services needed to survive and develop safely.
"The country faces a multi-faceted crisis, and international support remains crucial to confront the challenges and protect the most vulnerable population groups”, concludes UNICEF. (NM)
