Africa-Press – Mozambique. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP) have delivered humanitarian aid to 2,150 families in the district of Palma as part of a Joint Response Plan. The coordinated response provides relief to people that have been cut off from humanitarian aid from UN agencies since the armed attacks in Palma began in late March this year.
The joint response effort from the UN agencies is providing life-saving response by delivering 2,150 humanitarian aid kits, one for each family, serving up to 10,750 people. All kits contain hygiene items provided by UNICEF, shelter materials from IOM and food assistance from WFP.
“With these shelter kits (blankets, kitchen sets, sleeping mats, tarpaulins, ropes and carry-on bags) we hope to reduce the impact suffered by civilians in Palma. With this temporary access, IOM’s Teams have been able to carry out an initial assessment on the current needs of IDPs in these hitherto inaccessible areas” said Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM Chief of Mission.
The humanitarian aid and personnel were transported by the WFP humanitarian logistic services, involving boats, trucks and WFP aircraft-managed by the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). “It was an incredible joint humanitarian effort from the UN sister agencies, WFP, UNICEF and IOM in close coordination with the Government of Mozambique”, said Antonella D’Aprile, WFP Representative.
Access and security to hard-to-reach areas continues to be a challenge for humanitarian actors across Cabo Delgado. The current situation has limited the provision of aid to some of the most vulnerable populations. According to IOM, since 2017 more than 730 thousand people have been displaced due to conflict in Cabo Delgado.
“In this situation of conflict and displacement the most vulnerable need our support most and these are women and children”, said UNICEF Representative Maria-Luisa Fornara. “The emergency kits will prevent life-threatening diseases, improve the nutrition status of children and generally allow for a more dignified and safe living” she continued.
The aid kits distributed by the UN agencies was an extraordinary operation, which built on long negotiations for humanitarian access and support from the Government of Mozambique, other NGOs, and civil society organizations already active in the field. This Joint Response Plan will temporarily alleviate the suffering of thousands of displaced people in some of the most affected areas.
UN agencies remain committed to providing rapid response to those who are most vulnerable in collaboration with partners and appeal to the donor community for continued support.
It was the first time UN agencies reached people in Palma with aid since late March
There are other organizations working in the ground, such as the Government of Mozambique, ONGs and Mozambican civil society organizations and networks
Providing life-saving humanitarian survival kits to those in need are ongoing and of importance in #Mozambique.
