Mozambique: Escalation of violence in Memba and Erati districts, Nampula Province - Situation Report #5, As of 17 December 2025

HIGHLIGHTS

• Assistance has so far reached assistance reaching approximately 62,000 people out of the 107,000 displaced. The limited nature of the response is contributing to growing tensions between internally displaced persons and host communities, and causing premature returns.
• Authorities announced plans to encourage returns from Alua to Memba and close the Alua IDP sites. However, there have been no reports of Government trucks transporting IDPs during the past week.
• Cholera outbreak in Memba and Erati districts continues and recurrent attacks against health workers and community leaders have been reported due to widespread cholera-related misinformation.
• Measles and high malaria cases have been reported.

Situation overview

As of 17 December, the humanitarian response to the displacement crisis in Erati and Memba is currently falling short of minimum assistance standards, with assistance reaching only approximately 62,000 people out of the 107,000 displaced. The limited nature of the response is contributing to growing tensions between internally displaced persons and host communities, also causing premature return. More details can be found on the OCHA Nampula Dashboard.

On 11 December, at the meeting of the Operational Emergency Centre in Nampula, Government authorities expressed concern about the scale of the humanitarian response. The Government also highlighted low return figures, with 12,500 people (INGD) returning out of 82,500 initially registered in Alua.

The provincial authorities stressed the importance of strengthened coordination, transparency, and compliance by humanitarian partners of established assistance standards to ensure equity of assistance provided. Public health risks, including an active cholera outbreak and overcrowding IDP site in Alua, were flagged as urgent concerns. While acknowledging continued improvements in security and donor support, the Governor announced plans to encourage returns from Alua to Memba and subsequently close the Alua transit centres, though no timeline was provided. The Governor also requested a new IDP registration in Alua to update population figures and reported mobilizing seeds, tools, shelter kits for 10,000 people (2,000 HHs), and drilling of six boreholes in Memba.

The Government continues to mobilize support through the private sectors. On 12 December, a private company donated 1,000 bags of maize flour for distribution to Memba IDPs. Faith-based partners are mobilizing additional food and non-food items, while coordinating with humanitarian actors to complete standardized food baskets and avoid duplication or tensions. On 13 December, Nampula provincial authorities distributed emergency food assistance to 1,000 returnees (200 households) in Memba district; some beneficiaries had fled November NSAG attacks and recently returned from Erati. The assistance remains insufficient relative to needs, highlighting reliance on ad-hoc contributions and the importance of coordinated, predictable support.

On 16 December, a joint UNICEF & OCHA mission traveled to Jacoco village in Chipenhe, Memba district, about 20 kilometers from the Alua IDP sites in Erati, to assess pendular displacement and return movements. Along the road and upon arrival, the team encountered displaced families walking back to Jacoco with their belongings, explaining that after more than a month in the Alua IDP sites without assistance, they felt they had no choice but to return home. In Jacoco, the health facility was found to be partially operational; community members reported that government-supported transport for return movements had stopped approximately a week earlier, forcing many to make the journey on foot. Local authorities confirmed that humanitarian assistance remains largely concentrated in Alua, with no current support reaching Memba district. The mission also observed extensive damage still visible across the village. Homes, schools, and health facilities affected by Cyclone Chido in December 2024 remain unrepaired, underscoring the fragility of returns and the urgent need for expanded assistance and early recovery support in areas of origin.

Recurrent attacks against health workers and community leaders have been reported due to widespread cholera-related misinformation. On 17 December, members of the local community in Meliva village, Alua administrative area, Erati district (Nampula province), attacked and destroyed a school and four homes belonging to community leaders and a community health worker, accusing them of spreading cholera. Similar incidents were reported in Nanlia and Ntocota villages in Metuge district, Cabo Delgado province, where community members vandalized the Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) and the Nanlia health facility, and destroyed five homes belonging to community leaders and health workers.

At the time of reporting, active cholera outbreaks are ongoing in Memba, Erati, and Moma districts in Nampula province, as well as in Metuge district in Cabo Delgado province. According to Cholera Bulletin No. 83 (dated 13 December), a total of 462 cumulative cases has been reported since September. Memba district remains the epicenter, with 339 cases and four deaths, followed by Moma district with 90 cases and Erati district with 68 cases.

Erati district is currently hosting approximately 82,690 conflict-affected people recently displaced from Memba. In this context, violent incidents linked to cholera misinformation risk hindering humanitarian access to affected populations, undermining community trust, and increasing fear and mistrust among health workers and humanitarian personnel.

An allocation of U$ 6M from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Rapid Response window has been approved to assist approximately 84,500 affected people. The funding will support activities in Protection (including gender-based violence), Child Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Food Security, Shelter and Non-Food Items, and Health, including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Sexual and Reproductive Health for 4 UN agencies: IOM, UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP.