Mozambique: Humanitarian Snapshot, as of March 2026 [EN/PT]

Country: Mozambique Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. Situation Overview In March, conflict, climate shocks, and public health challenges, compounded vulnerabilities and strained response capacity. Conflict-related displacement remains acute. The latest displacement tracking data (IOM-DTM Round 23, February 2026) recorded 661, 532 internally displaced persons (IDPs) nationwide, marking a 9 per cent increase compared to April 2025. Children accounted for over half of the displaced population (54 per cent), underscoring heightened protection risks. Cabo Delgado remained the epicenter of the crisis, hosting approximately 72 per cent of all IDPs (474, 410 people), with particularly high concentrations in Metuge, Mueda, and Pemba districts. These urban and peri-urban areas continued to absorb increasing caseloads, placing additional pressure on already overstretched services and infrastructure. At the same time, 721, 691 returnees were recorded nationally, reflecting a 3 per cent increase. Returns to districts such as Mocímboa da Praia, Palma, and Macomia remained fragile due to limited-service availability and persistent insecurity. The full impact of early 2026 flooding on displacement dynamics was not captured by IO-DTM Round 23. Cholera-related disinformation fueled community violence and undermined response efforts. Throughout March, incidents of violence linked to cholera misinformation were reported across Cabo Delgado and Nampula, including assaults on community leaders and police, as well as the destruction of property. Since January, over 24 such incidents had been documented, highlighting a concerning trend of mistrust toward authorities and health actors. These dynamics directly affected humanitarian access and the continuity of essential services, with two health facilities in Monapo district remaining closed since February due to insecurity. Health authorities reported that 74 per cent of cholera-related deaths occurred at community level, largely due to delayed care-seeking driven by misinformation. In response, authorities and humanitarian partners intensified community engagement efforts, while a large-scale cholera vaccination campaign was launched on 2 March in Nampula, targeting over 800, 000 people, particularly in high-risk districts. Humanitarian access to previously hard-to-reach areas showed modest progress. In March, humanitarian actors expanded their presence to Mbau (Mocímboa da Praia) for the first time in three years, marking a significant step toward reaching underserved populations. Protection activities rolled out following community consultations included gender-based violence prevention, support to persons with disabilities, and strengthened community engagement through a mix of static and mobile approaches. Earlier in the year, a similar mission had reached Mucojo (Macomia), although sustained response in these areas remained constrained by insecurity and the limited presence of operational partners. Flooding continued to drive displacement and humanitarian needs. According to the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), more than one million people had been affected since the start of the rainy season in October 2025, highlighting the continued intersection of climate shocks and displacement. Successive waves of flooding occurred in early 2026 with 724, 000 impacted by the first wave and an additional 175, 000 by subsequent events. As of late March, 21, 780 people remained in 53 accommodation centres, representing only a fraction of those affected. Many displaced households—particularly those whose homes had been destroyed—remained sheltering in informal settings or with host communities, often outside formal monitoring systems.

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