Situation in northern Mozambique, in particular the delegation led by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Mozambican authorities

Subject: Situation in northern Mozambique, in particular the delegation led by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Mozambican authorities

The worsening humanitarian crisis and escalating violence in northern Mozambique continue to claim victims with over 2 000 lives lost and more than 560 000 people internally displaced.

Compounding the devastation, Mozambique is also facing cyclone season and the pandemic, as well as extreme poverty and hunger.

The Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, acting on behalf of the Vice-President / High Representative, recently led a delegation to the Mozambican authorities in response to their request for support. At the end of the visit, he told the press that ‘all political objectives ha[d] been met’.

1. Precisely what forms of humanitarian (accommodation, health, logistics, human resources, economic aid), security and development support have been agreed on and made available over the medium term?

2. When can we expect an action plan to be presented? What is the precise timeline for the drafting and approval of the programme for strengthening cooperation, and when will it be implementable?

3. Finally, given the importance of ensuring a coherent and regionally coordinated response, what role does the Vice-President / High Representative believe the Southern African Development Community should play in drawing up this plan?

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission (20 April 2021)

The visit to Mozambique of Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, on behalf of the High Representative/Vice-President, opened a comprehensive set of exchanges on all aspects of the crisis in Cabo Delgado.

In 2020, the EU allocated EUR 2.5 million for education in emergencies in Cabo Delgado and EUR 5 million from its operational reserve specifically dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict. EU humanitarian operations encompass protection, shelter, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene, food assistance and health.

Humanitarian assistance in Cabo Delgado remains a priority for EU humanitarian funding in 2021. This additional funding will continue to address immediate, life-saving and essential needs across all sectors as a result of the armed violence, targeting the most vulnerable populations in Cabo Delgado as well as Nampula and Niassa provinces.

Under the current financial framework, EU development funding supports local communities, with programmes aiming at discouraging recruitment and radicalisation and building social cohesion. EU also supports projects for civil society and youth, capacity building and job creation in Cabo Delgado. A four-year pilot project aims to provide education and vocational training and to employ 800 young people aged between 15 to 25.

The EU affirms the importance of outreach to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), recognising its position in the African Peace and Security Architecture. In this context the situation in Cabo Delgado will continue to be raised, including at the next ministerial meeting with SADC planned later in 2021.