What years of war, cyclones and displacement have wrought to the people of northern Mozambique

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff in Chiúre, northern Mozambique, prepare daily for rapid deployments in armored Land Cruisers, given the risk of militant attacks in the region. Teams head to temporary clinics near Alúa, Eráti district, where displaced families—including Pereira’s—seek shelter after fleeing violence in Memba district. Over 39,000 people fled attacks in October 2023, with 30,000 more displaced in November, following looting and arson at Chipene’s Catholic mission in September 2021. Isabel Carlos Pereira, injured while carrying children to safety, describes walking for days with 12 family members, including nine children, after militants targeted their village. Her youngest granddaughter died of measles during the trek, while another child perished earlier from untreated epilepsy, compounded by the clinic’s refusal to treat them without fees. Pereira’s family was initially rejected by Alúa Velha’s community, forced to sleep outside and beg for food. Nampula province, where 70% of children live in poverty, lacks basic healthcare—clinic staff demand small fees for entry and medicines, which are often unavailable. MSF’s December 2023 emergency clinic became a lifeline, preventing further displacement or returns to conflict zones. The region’s landscape, marked by inselbergs like the granite cowl near Alúa, contrasts with the devastation caused by cyclones and years of war. Survivors like Pereira face compounded crises: militant violence, climate disasters, and systemic neglect, with MSF’s outreach remaining critical to their survival.