Mozambique

Mozambique is facing a deeply neglected crisis where humanitarian needs are rising rapidly amid worsening violence and repeated climate shocks. 

In 2025, humanitarian needs in Mozambique increased due to a significant escalation of the conflict in Cabo Delgado, the high vulnerability of people returning to their home areas amid widespread destruction of social services, and the impact of three major cyclones combined with El Niño–induced droughts. Communities faced severe food insecurity, limited access to health care and education, and heightened protection risks, particularly for women, girls, and children. Repeated shocks eroded resilience and deepened vulnerabilities, leaving hundreds of thousands in need of life-saving assistance.

Humanitarian access was severely disrupted by insecurity, airstrip closures, and mandatory military escorts. While limited responses have since resumed, progress remains constrained by fragile access conditions.

In 2026, insecurity in northern Mozambique is expected to persist and expand, with non-State armed groups continuing mobile raids, abductions, extortion, and informal taxation along key routes, mining areas and coastal zones, further constraining livelihoods and humanitarian access.

Humanitarian operations will face severe constraints due to security escort requirements, road blockages, flooding, funding shortfalls, and bureaucratic impediments, including costly visa and work permit delays and increasing government oversight that risks compromising humanitarian principles. Funding gaps will limit recovery efforts and may reverse development gains, leaving essential services largely non-functional.

The UN and partners require about US$348 million to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in Mozambique. This includes $265 million to assist the most vulnerable 919,000 people in locations with severe needs.