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Statement - The Situation in Northern Mozambique
2021/05/11 10:13:25 AM
STATEMENT OF THE AFRICAN OMBUDSMAN AND MEDIATORS ASSOCIATION (AOMA) ON THE SITUATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) IN CABO DELGADO, NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE
The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) expresses concern about developments in Northern Mozambique where violence from Islamist insurgents has resulted in displacement of people, majority of them women and children, from Palma in Cabo Delgado Province since October 2017.
In particular, AOMA notes the report of 27th April 2021 from the Ombudsman of Mozambique, Provedor da Justica, that decries reprehensible attacks on civilians and loss of life, destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure in the districts of Mocímboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Macomia and Quissanga leading to displacement of an estimated 700,000 to the neighbouring provinces of Nampula, Niassa, Sofala and Zambézia. As more people continue to flee for safety, humanitarian challenges have been witnessed, particularly the need for water, food, shelter, health care, hygiene and other non-food items. AOMA recognizes that the humanitarian situation of the internally displaced is exacerbated by the effects of Covid-19 and the impact of Cyclone Eloise in January 2021 and past natural disasters, hence the need to scale up response to address the immediate and long term needs of the IDPs.
In this regard, we join the Ombudsman of Mozambique who has launched a campaign – Together for Cabo Delgado – to draw the attention of the international community to the situation in Northern Mozambique and raise funds for humanitarian relief.
In addition, we call for concerted efforts of the Mozambican authorities in line with the African Union (AU) Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (the Kampla Convention), to which Mozambique is a signatory, to address the root cause of this displacement and work towards a durable solution in solidarity with the international community.
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN OMBUDSMAN AND MEDIATORS ASSOCIATION
03rd May 2021
Website: http://aoma.ukzn.ac.za/Home.aspx
Email: aoma.kenya@ombudsman.go.ke
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Twitter: @AOMAOMBUDSMAN
