Mozambique: Archbishop Inacio Saure, head of the Archdiocese of Nampula and President of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, has launched an urgent call for humanitarian assistance to support over 30,000 people displaced in the Alua district of Memba. The Archbishop highlighted the pressing need for immediate solidarity to aid families forced to flee escalating violence by jihadist militias in northern Mozambique.
Speaking to Vatican News, Archbishop Saure described the dire humanitarian situation, noting that thousands of residents are currently taking refuge in the administrative post of Alua after recent terrorist attacks in Nampula Province. He confirmed that he remains in frequent contact with the Bishop of Nacala, whose diocese includes Memba, and has already mobilized the Nampula Archdiocesan Caritas to coordinate a rapid response for the internally displaced.
The Archbishop stressed that the onset of the rainy season in Southern Africa is worsening already precarious conditions, as many displaced families are living in temporary and makeshift shelters. “The suffering of these people is profound and heartbreaking,” he said, particularly noting the vulnerability of children, with reports of hunger and dehydration leading to deaths during flight from the attackers.
Archbishop Saure urged both local communities and the international community to respond without delay, underscoring the immediate needs of the displaced: “They urgently require food, clothing, medicines, tents, and financial support to survive this crisis.” His appeal comes amid growing concerns over the humanitarian fallout in northern Mozambique, where instability continues to threaten thousands of civilians.