The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned of an impending funding gap in carrying out humanitarian services in Mozambique.
The UN agency said that it has only received U.S.$18.1 million for its life-saving services for women and children in Mozambique affected by conflict, Cyclone Gombe, and Tropical Storm Ana.
UNICEF made this known in its recently published situation report, where it said it has used core resources and humanitarian-development nexus funding for humanitarian response activities totalling U.S.$11.7million.
It also said it has a budget of U.S.$98.8 million for its 2022 Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal, hence there is a funding gap of 68 percent of the total budget.
UNICEF noted that it has received generous contributions from the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
UNICEF warned that although October marks the beginning of the rainy season in Mozambique, very little rain was recorded in the north of the country.
‘Food insecurity is expected to increase during the lean season months of October and November, with a higher number of households facing integrated phase classification crisis-level (level three) outcomes’, it added.
‘Many poor households have already exhausted or nearly exhausted their food reserves’.
The armed conflict in Cabo Delgado escalated in 2020, with a significant increase in the number and scope of attacks by armed groups and the subsequent humanitarian impact.
According to the European Union (EU), about 1.5 million people in Mozambique require protection, food assistance, nutrition services, health, education, water and sanitation, and shelter.
Also, over 1.4 million people are acutely food insecure, out of which 1.1 million in Cabo Delgado and neighbouring provinces of Niassa and Nampula.
Photo source: UN Mozambique/Helvisney Cardoso
