Mozambique: Cabo Delgado, Nampula & Niassa Humanitarian Snapshot, February 2025 [EN/PT]

In February a total of 10,140 people were on the move within Cabo Delgado. The majority of the movement (93 per cent) was forced due to attacks or fear of attacks while the remaining seven per cent was voluntary as people moved to return to areas of origin or reunify with family. The majority of the movement originated from Macomia and Meluco districts towards the districts’ sedes. Displacement, albeit of a lesser magnitude, was also reported withing Mocimboa da Praia and Muidumbe. Food, Shelter and NFIs are the top priorities reported by the displaced. OCHA and UNDSS continue to engage to expand assistance to newly accessible areas in Mbau administrative post in Mocimboa da Praia district and Mucojo in Macomia district.

Efforts to assist the populations affected by Cyclone Chido continued, reaching 259,000 out of 320,000 people in need by the end of February. However, a detailed analysis shows that the response was not multisectoral, leaving critical gaps across several sectors. The Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) sector reached nearly its entire target population, but distributions covered only one week of food assistance, while food support will be needed until the harvest season in May, alongside the distribution of seeds and tools. Livelihoods assistance reached just 11,000 out of 150,000 people targeted. The Shelter/NFI cluster provided non-food items (NFIs) to 155,000 people, covering 55% of its target. Meanwhile, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector met 28% of its target, and significant gaps persist in nutrition, protection, and gender-based violence (GBV) services. With the rainy and cyclone season and the lean season continuing until April, critical priorities included food assistance, seeds, construction materials, as well as nutrition and protection support to safeguard the most vulnerable.

In Nampula, an estimated 460,000 people were affected by Cyclones Dikeledi and Chido within a month, with the majority still lacking assistance. The situation was further exacerbated by a surge in acute watery diarrhea cases across four cyclone-impacted districts and ongoing cholera outbreaks in two others. At the end of February, cholera affected 596 people in Nampula Province which accounted for 96% of all cholera cases reported in the country, including in Zambezia Province. Cholera control interventions were challenged by lack of funds, multiple emergencies due to two cyclones striking northern Mozambique back-to back, the on-going rain season and the low acceptance of cholera control interventions by the communities. Humanitarian partners agreed to strengthen community involvement and engagement to bring culturally appropriate, clear health messages and enhance trust in the community.

The scale of the emergency surpassed the capacity of humanitarian partners on the ground. By the end of February 2025, the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) had received only $17.5 million—just 5 per cent of the $352 million financial requirement. At a time when funding in Mozambique was already dwindling amid increasing life-saving humanitarian needs, the announced reduction of support by key humanitarian donors have put additional strain on response efforts. The Flash Appeal to respond to cyclones Chido and Dikeledi seeking U$134 million is less than 1 percent funded with $1 million received. The impact of the cyclone will compound existing vulnerabilities to the ongoing triple crisis of conflict, climate change and a worsening socio-economic situation.