Faizel Patel – 06/08/2021

Human Rights Watch says the Mozambican government should immediately assist civilians trapped by fighting in Cabo Delgado province to move to safer areas.

According to Human Rights Watch, more than 88,000 people have been displaced from the embattled Palma district following the March attack by Ansar al-Sunna, an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).

Government security forces have imposed restrictions that have prevented tens of thousands from leaving, placing them at risk from fighting and aid shortages.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Human Rights Watch’s Zenaida Machado says the current situation in Mozambique is unsafe with a number of civilians fleeing Cabo Delgado.

Part of these people arrived in Pemba, after walking long distances, after taking long journey’s by boat facing all types of risks and without any help. Another group is still trapped in Quitunda which is a village that was built for just under three hundred families, but it is our understanding that it is currently accommodating more than twenty thousand people.”

Machado says it is unclear why the Mozambican government does not want civilians to leave Palma.

“We officially requested an explanation from the government of Mozambique, they’ve not replied to us, to our request. We have been able to speak some senior military sources inside the army and their position is that it’s been very difficult for them to differentiate insurgents from civilians.”

Machado says there is very little humanitarian aid being provided in Mozambique.

“There’s very little that gets there. There is aid from the Muslim associations around the area or from one or two maybe business people that left their workers behind and once in a while they manage to send money that they can buy food and share with others.”

Machado says prominent aid agencies have been absent in Palma since March.

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Listen to the interview with Zenaida Machado