Wars and other natural phenomena are attracting the world’s attention and leaving Mozambique’s situation almost invisible,” the UN’s refugee chief warns.
The country’s mineral-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been plagued by Islamist violence, and the UN said it only has 17% of the funding it needs to provide short-term relief to the many locals who need urgent aid.
“I appeal to the World Bank and other partners to support Mozambique in development projects, to not only avoid a humanitarian crisis, but also stop the spread of terrorism in the world,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
“As a United Nations organisation, [we] are committed to providing a large-scale response to the humanitarian drama in Cabo Delgado, but unfortunately, without sufficient resources, we will have no alternative but to do less of what we should do.”