The humanitarian crisis deepens in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

Nampula, Mozambique — A new wave of violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado has displaced tens of thousands of people in recent weeks, intensifying a humanitarian crisis that has already left more than one million people homeless. The attacks, attributed to insurgent groups, have focused on districts such as Chiúre, forcing the population into a desperate flight in search of safety.

The neighboring province of Nampula has become one of the main refuges for those fleeing the terror. Amid scarcity and emergency, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Nampula has issued an appeal describing the situation as “truly terrifying,” with “many brothers and sisters suffering from hunger and at risk of disease transmission due to the crowding in which they find themselves.”

In an effort to provide an immediate response, members of the SSVP in Nampula have begun hosting displaced families in their own homes. “Although we lack sufficient means to meet basic needs, we have at least provided spiritual assistance through prayers and Masses,” reports the President of the SSVP in Mozambique, Mr. Arlindo Cossa.

In a joint action with the Daughters of Charity, the SSVP is also facilitating educational support, enrolling displaced children in local schools in the Nacaroa district. On August 8, the sisters visited the homes of SSVP members who are hosting refugees from Chiúre District, in the Administrative Post of Ocua, to offer support and assess needs. “To visit the poor and those in need is to go to God,” the SSVP recalled, quoting St. Vincent de Paul.

This Sunday, August 24, Pope Leo XIV issued an appeal to the global community to pray for peace, expressing support for both Ukraine and the war-torn region of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, and calling for efforts to restore security and peace in the area.