Mozambique recorded 663,769 internally displaced in July 2026, plus 1,777 compared to February, but the number of returnees exceeded 730,000, reflecting progress in the return of populations to the areas of origin in Cabo Delgado.
© Lusa
05/10/2026
by
Lusa
A the most recent evaluation of the Displacement Monitoring Matrix (TMD) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), conducted between May and June 2026 in partnership with the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) and the National Statistical Institute (INE) states that country accounted for 663.769 internally displaced persons, distributed by 160,502 households.
Compared to the previous round, released in February, the number of displaced people increased by 0.3%, from 661,992 to 663,769 people, indicating the data released today.
According to the IOM, national growth was mainly linked to increased monitoring in Gaza after the floods and floods of the rainy season 2025/2026.
“ This increase is largely attributed to the expansion of travel monitoring coverage in Gaza province, after heavy rainfall and flooding in southern Mozambique during the rainy season 2025/2026,” the report said.
Despite the slight national rise, Cabo Delgado remains the main epicentre of the crisis, concentrating 68% of all internally displaced persons identified in the country due to the armed insurgency that has been in place for nine years and has already caused more than 6,600 deaths, according to international organizations.
The province accounted for 449,876 displaced persons, less 5% than in the previous assessment, in a development that the IOM associated with the continuation of return movements in some areas, although there are still new episodes of displacement caused by insecurity.
“ Despite this decline, new movements were recorded in some locations after renewed wave of attacks, while in other areas, part of the population returned to their places of origin as safety conditions showed signs of improvement,” the organization said.
The largest numbers of displaced people in Cabo Delgado were registered in the districts of Macomia, with 95.031 people, Metuge, with 59,724, and Mueda, with 55,405.
The report concludes that armed conflicts remain the main cause of domestic movements in Mozambique. Of the total displaced people, 73% abandoned their communities due to violence and insecurity, while 27% were affected by extreme weather phenomena and other disasters.
“ Conflict-induced displacement remains the main factor of population movements in northern Mozambique. In contrast, travel in the center and south of the country remains predominantly associated with climate risks, including floods and other extreme weather phenomena,” says IOM.
In parallel, the evaluation identified 730,480 returnees throughout the country, grouped into 203,013 families, more 1% than in February. The number of returnees now exceeds the total number of internal displaced persons identified by the organisation.
Most returnees, 92%, are in Cabo Delgado. The largest return movements were recorded in the districts of Mocímboa da Praia, with 179,547 people, Palma, with 114,735, and Macomia, with 91,591.
IOM considers that these returns reflect relative improvements in safety conditions in some areas, although many families continue to face difficulties in rebuilding their livelihoods and regain access to essential services.
The report identifies food, shelter, livelihoods, access to drinking water and health care among the needs most frequently reported by displaced and returned populations.
The evaluation also alerts the situation of people with disabilities, estimating that about 106,203 internally displaced and 116,983 returnees can live with some kind of disability, which, according to the organization, requires more inclusive humanitarian responses and adapted to the specific needs of these vulnerable groups.