Maputo, May 11, 2026 (Lusa) - At least 212,695 people affected by the armed conflict in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado received food assistance by March under the World Food Programme's (WFP) humanitarian response, covering 80% of the planned target.
Climate shocks, conflict, and socio-economic vulnerability continue to drive a multidimensional humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, according to the latest report from the United Nations agency.
In Cabo Delgado alone, some 212,695 conflict-affected individuals received food aid in March.
"The WFP continues to provide regular food assistance in Cabo Delgado, whilst supporting recently displaced families with one-off distributions of emergency kits where necessary”.
“Resource constraints have temporarily reduced the coverage of regular assistance to 265,000 people in March, compared to the usual 425,000, highlighting the urgent need for sustained funding to prevent further deterioration of the situation," the document said.
According to the WFP, the regular distribution cycle in the gas-rich northern province, the target of extremist attacks for eight years, was concluded in early April due to poor road conditions caused by seasonal rains and persistent insecurity, which limited access to some communities.
During the same period, the agency reported that it supported the nutritional response for those displaced or affected by ongoing climate shocks, strengthening the treatment of acute malnutrition in emergency contexts, distributing 118.8 tonnes of nutritious food to 112 health units across Cabo Delgado.
At the same time, around 1.3 million people in the provinces of Gaza and Sofala received early warning messages as part of flood risk preparedness and mitigation efforts.
Logistically, WFP ensured the transport of 739 passengers and 64.1 tonnes of humanitarian cargo, supporting emergency response operations across various affected regions of Mozambique.
WFP’s nutritional support has also been extended to Sofala, one of the provinces affected by the recent rains, through the distribution of seeds to 230 families and support for 19 poultry farms.
The intervention also included community awareness-raising activities that reached 794 people to protect the diets, livelihoods, and recovery pathways of the affected populations.
The document also said the agency distributed a total of 3,263 tonnes of food and made cash transfers amounting to $214,106 (€181,600) as part of its response to food insecurity, climate shocks, and armed conflict.
Despite this support, the WFP warns that funding needs remain high, with an estimated $134 million (€113.6 million) required to sustain humanitarian operations in Mozambique over the next six months.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project recorded 15 violent incidents between 20 April and 3 May in Cabo Delgado, seven of which involved Islamic State extremists, resulting in 15 deaths and bringing the total number of deaths since 2017 to 6,542.
The latest rainy season in Mozambique affected nearly 1.075 million people and damaged 250,000 homes, according to an update from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction issued on Saturday.
LCE/MYAL // ADB.
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