CERF allocated nearly $1.5 million for approximately 13,000 beneficiaries in need of emergency assistance in Mozambique

27 May 2011: Mozambique has a large population of long-term refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, concentrated in the Maratane Refugee Camp in Nampula Province. The population has recently nearly doubled in size due to an influx of Ethiopian and Somali asylum seekers trying to enter South Africa, who have been among some of the most vulnerable groups in need of life saving assistance.

In particular, many of the refugees and asylum seekers in the Maratane Camp and in the neighbouring town of Palma have been suffering from deteriorating food security and health and nutrition conditions. In response to this crisis, $260,000 of CERF funding will allow the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide transportation, milling and locally purchased food for 5,000 temporary and long-term residents of the camp and new arrivals in Palma. A major focus of the campaign will be the provision of daily rations to the population, with a particular focus on women and children.

In addition, over $920,000 has been allocated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide permanent and semi-permanent shelter for refugees and asylum seekers in the camp and in Palma. Other UNHCR projects also include providing food assistance, improving water and sanitation infrastructure, protecting migrants from deportation and procuring essential drugs.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Mozambique Red Cross, has also received nearly $300,000 to provide temporary shelter, basic hygiene equipment and immigration information in Palma. As a result of these efforts, refugees and asylum seekers will be able to receive basic health care services; upon the improvement of their condition they will be provided with transportation to the Maratane Refugee Camp. IOM will also develop and disseminate practical information concerning immigration issues and refugee procedures in the relevant languages of those stranded in Palma by working with UNHCR, the Government of Mozambique and Community Media for Development.

[Last update: 27 May 2011]