[ad_1]
By Thembelihle Mkhonza 
21h ago
JOHANNESBURG – The United Nations World Food Program on Tuesday expressed concern about the escalation of the conflict and the deteriorating food security situation in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where more than 300,000 people fled their homes and they abandoned their crops.
Since 2017, Cabo Delgado has suffered attacks by suspected Islamist insurgents, displacing communities that have sought refuge in other provinces such as Nampula and Niassa. These attacks have resulted in loss of life and severely damaged infrastructure.
Increasing insecurity and poor infrastructure have made it more difficult to reach people in need, and the Covid-19 pandemic has made the crisis even more complex, said WFP’s representative in the southern African country, Antonella. D’Aprile.
“We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation unfolding in Cabo Delgado, where conflict and violence have left people without access to food and livelihoods,” he said.
According to the latest findings from the FEWSNET famine early warning system, communities will continue to face ‘crisis’ levels of food insecurity until early 2021.
Cabo Delgado has the second highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the country with more than half of children under five years of age with chronic malnutrition. Any additional impacts could quickly worsen the situation, especially for women and children, the WFP said.
The UN agency said it urgently needed $ 4.7 million a month to help internally displaced people, warning that without this it would be forced to cut food rations from December.
Thousands of refugees have crossed into neighboring Tanzania, deepening concern among the international community about the regionalization of the conflict.
Cabo Delgado currently has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases in Mozambique and the displacement of residents has the potential to accelerate the spread of the virus.
WFP, in collaboration with the government, plans to reach 310,000 people each month in Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa provinces.
African News Agency
[ad_2]
