Mozambique: Rebuilding lives in Cabo Delgado
By Alvo Naftal Ofumane
“We lost everything when we fled [conflict] in 2021, but we are determined to rebuild," said Vicente Sabonete, who recently returned to Ngãngolo village, his hometown in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado Province.
The impact of the seven-year conflict in Cabo Delgado remains profound, affecting internally displaced people, host communities and returnees. The conflict between non-State armed groups erupted on 5 October 2017. Since then, more than 1.3 million internal displacements have been recorded in northern Mozambique. Some people have returned home, but more than 610,000 people still desperately need support. They face challenges including family separation, mental distress and a lack of civil documentation, which is essential for accessing basic services.
Struggling to rebuild
Ngãngolo’s residents fled to Mueda district, 60 km away. By mid-2023, after months of relative calm, families like Vicente’s returned home. However, services in Ngãngolo remain scarce. Only a few schools have reopened, leaving many children without access to education. Health-care services are limited, with mobile clinics catering only for children, leaving adults, especially pregnant women, without immediate care. Residents endure a 15 km walk to access health care. Water is constantly scarce, deterring displaced families from returning.
"Coming back to our homes is a chance to restart, but without essential services it’s hard to move forward," explained Serdato Martins, a returnee.
Access to land is essential
In Lianda displacement site, Hilário Nkwendilama, a farmer from Nangade, remains cautious about returning home. “We prefer to stay here until the situation stabilizes,” he said.
Hilário and his family fled attacks by non-State armed groups in 2022 and relied on humanitarian food distributions since arriving at Lianda. However, these distributions stopped in December 2023, forcing Hilário and his family to find ways to secure food and other basic supplies.
He explained: “I make artisanal baskets that we sell in the displacement site and outside. The money we earn helps us buy food and other necessities.” Occasionally they exchange baskets directly for food.
Land in Mozambique is generally accessible, but displaced families struggle to secure it. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, this makes it difficult to farm enough crops for both subsistence and income.
Rebuilding as a community
With support from donors, a non-governmental organization launched a project focusing on agriculture, vocational training and recovery activities, supporting displaced families in seven communities in Cabo Delgado’s Chiúre District.
Simão Bernardo fled Muidumbe village in 2021 and now lives with his family in Titimar, Chiúre District. He explained: "The agricultural project has given me the means to feed my family. We can grow food year-round, and with the money from what we sell we can buy other essentials. The local community has been incredibly supportive. I feel welcome here, but I hope to return to Muidumbe one day when it’s safe.”
Simão's experience resonates with many other displaced people in Titimar, including those from Mocímboa da Praia and Macomia, who also found a sense of belonging through the project.
Saqique, a fisherman from Palma, lost 10 of his sons during the conflict. After being forced to flee twice, he eventually found sanctuary on the shores of Maganja. When relative peace returned in early 2023, he went back to Palma, only to find his boats and tools missing.
Aid from humanitarian organizations initially provided some assistance to sustain Saqique and his family, but that support has now dwindled.
Saqique plans to rebuild his life by forming a boat-restoration association with 11 other fishermen.