Mozambique with 363.606 internally displaced in October

Moçambique counted 363.606 internally displaced in October, an increase of 4% compared to the previous evaluation, with more than half of the affected population composed of children, according to a report from the International Organization for Migration (IMO).

The data are contained in the report of the 17th round of the Multisectoral Evaluation of IOM Locations, held between 14 and 28 September, which identified 363,606 internally displaced persons, corresponding to 87,201 households, distributed by 213 centers and reception sites throughout the country.

According to the report, which compares data with the 16th round of evaluation held in December 2025, the total represents a 4% increase in less than one year, attributable to the expansion of monitoring operations to new areas of Gaza and Inhambane provinces and the continuation of displacements associated with insecurity in the north of the country.

Children account for 55% of the displaced population, followed by women, with 26%, and men, with 19%. The organization also estimates that about 58,177 displaced people live with some kind of disability.

The province of Cabo Delgado, rich in gas and stage since 2017 of an armed insurgency, continues to concentrate most of the displaced population, welcoming 205.921 people in 84 places of travel.

In the report, the IOM warns that, in 46% of these places, most households do not have access to functional health facilities, while in 88% of places displaced people are unable to buy enough food due to lack of financial resources.

The organization adds that 74% of the places evaluated in Cabo Delgado does not have safe spaces for women and girls.

Sofala appears as the second most displaced province, totaling 95,385 people distributed across 34 reception sites.

The province of Manica hosts 28,646 displaced in 37 places, especially in the district of Sussundenga. Among the main difficulties reported are access to secondary education, civil documentation, health services and energy for lighting.

According to the report, in all places evaluated in Manica most households had at least one member without civil documentation.

In the city of Maputo, 1,567 displaced in nine reception sites were identified, while the Maputo province hosts 4,300 displaced persons, also distributed by nine locations.

In both districts, the most frequently mentioned needs are financial support, income generation opportunities and access to food.

The report also highlights the situation of the province of Niassa in the north, where the number of displaced persons increased from 1,158 to 2,946 people, growth associated mainly with the impacts of heavy rains and floods recorded during the rainy season 2025/26, which also affected the provinces of Gaza and Maputo in the south.

At national level, the IOM concludes that the most urgent needs of the displaced population remain financial assistance, livelihoods and food.

The organisation advocates strengthening access to drinking water, sanitation, health, nutrition and education, as well as the protection of women, children and people with disabilities, at a time when Mozambique continues to face the combined effects of armed conflicts, extreme climatic phenomena and prolonged displacements of populations.