Emergency aid in the crisis area Cabo Delgado

The crisis in the region is not over yet. fepa has, however, completed the emergency aid. Together with the local partner:organisation, we are now committed to a longer-term development perspective with the participation of the population.

Currently

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Background

Since 2017, the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique has been plagued by warlike turmoil. The anger and discontent of the population are fuelled by Islamist terrorists and criminal elements. In early 2021, the war reached a climax with the capture of the district capital Palma. In the process, the population was caught between the fronts of state security forces and insurgents. As a result, 700,000 people fled to other districts in the province. The influx of refugees poses a major challenge for the local population around the provincial capital of Pemba.

The causes of the conflict are complex. An important role is played by the large gas deposits that the French company Total wants to exploit with a gigantic gas liquefaction project on the coast off Palma. The project, worth 120 billion US The project, worth 120 billion US dollars, was stopped for security reasons after the attack on Palma. The local population realised that they could expect nothing from the promises. On the contrary, they were driven off their land. There is also a lot going wrong in the area, where illegal gemstone mining and smuggling as well as drug trafficking routes endanger the security of the local people. In addition, there are corrupt government employees who are only interested in self-enrichment.

fepa’s engagement

From 2005 to 2009, fepa carried out a mosquito net project in cooperation with Reiner Bernath, a doctor from Solothurn, in Mocimboa da Praia, near the border with Tanzania, to protect mothers and small children from malaria. Reiner Bernath had been on assignment there as a doctor for the Cabo Delgado Health Directorate and wanted to make an additional contribution after his return. Now the hospital of Mocimboa da Praia has been destroyed and many inhabitants of the formerly peaceful little coastal village have had to flee. Through an acquaintance in Pemba, Reiner Bernath was able to secure direct help for refugees. He contacted fepa again to organise further aid. It became apparent that the arrival of a large number of displaced persons was generating land conflicts with the local population. For this reason, fepa also supports a theatre group, the Associação Cultural Novos Horizontes, which works towards conflict resolution by raising awareness in the districts. Despite the usual difficulties, theatre performances were held in the centres of Mecufi, Montepuez and Ancuabe in front of more than 9,000 spectators.