The EU remains committed to supporting Mozambique and its people respond to humanitarian challenges, stressed Michael Koehler, Deputy Director General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations following his visit to the country between 24-26 April 2023.

Deputy Director General Koehler met with local authorities in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, and central authorities in Maputo. In his meetings, including with the President of National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, Mrs Luisa Meque, the Deputy Director General highlighted that supporting the people affected by violence in Northern Mozambique is a humanitarian priority for the EU.  

At the same time, he expressed concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Northern Mozambique and called for the full respect of International Humanitarian Law, to allow humanitarian organizations to perform their work in a safe environment and provide assistance to those who need it the most.

Deputy Director General Koehler also visited the Metuge camp for those internally displaced by the armed violence in Cabo Delgado. He met with organizations providing notably protection services, shelter and non-food items; health services, drinkable water, sanitation and hygiene (water and sanitation); food assistance and nutrition services; logistics; and education in emergencies. He also met with people receiving assistance. In the context of his visit to the Metuge camp, the Deputy Director General reiterated his concern about the humanitarian situation in northern Mozambique and stressed that more efforts are required to address the underlying root causes of the armed violence and to find durable solutions for the crisis.

Humanitarian needs in Mozambique are high, with around 2 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The EU renewed its overall humanitarian funding for Mozambique for 2023, allocating EUR 25 million mainly for the relief of those caught up in the armed violence in Cabo Delgado province. Funding will also be allocated to disaster preparedness, as Mozambique is one of the most vulnerable countries to global climate change. Recently, the EU also committed EUR 1.5 million in humanitarian funding to support the people severely affected country-wide by natural hazards, notably Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

Joining the Deputy Director General Koehler’s visit to Cabo Delgado, was the EU Head of Delegation to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, who followed closely the ongoing EU humanitarian assistance in the province.

In Mozambique, the EU is implementing an “integrated approach” in response to the multi-dimensional needs of the populations affected by the violence and to address the root causes of the Cabo Delgado crisis. This means, in practice, that the EU sets out humanitarian, development, peace-building and security actions, implemented in the short, medium and longer term while complying with international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law.